Massachusetts Officers Called to Wrangle an Alligator Find an Adorable Surprise Instead

Three animal control officers found a toy alligator at the scene and said their "excitement turned to belly laughs"

An animal control department in Massachusetts was in for a surprise after they got a call about an alligator at a local park.

Officials from the Andover MA Animal Control Department were called to Deer Jump Reservation in Andover, Mass., after an alligator sighting in the area, according to a Facebook post from the department.

Three officials arrived on the scene and met with the concerned callers who spotted the animal.

"Nervous to get too close, they described what they were able to see before we ventured in," Andover MA Animal Control wrote about the incident on social media.

Related: Large Gathering of Alligators in Georgia River Unnerves Onlookers — and Prompts Investigation

When the officers got to the area of the sighting, they found a toy alligator and said their "excitement turned to belly laughs." Andover, MA Animal Control shared photos of the toy in its Facebook post. The small toy appears to be a rubber alligator covered in worn green paint in the pictures. The toy is stuck in the pose of a gator opening its mouth and baring its teeth. On Facebook, the department noted that the fake animal "was very well camouflaged and placed to look like the real thing!"

The officers removed the toy to keep others from worrying about its presence on the trail. The Facebook post about the incident also noted that all dogs should be kept on leashes in the park in case dog owners encounter a real wild animal in the area.

"Surprisingly, this isn't the first alligator call in this area and it surely won't be the last - you never know what kind of creatures you'll come across in the woods, thankfully this one was made of rubber instead of scales," the agency wrote.

Related: Large Alligator Swims Out of Ocean and onto Alabama Beach Surprising Visitors — Watch!

Last year, Florida Today reported several instances of alligators attacking dogs in the state, one of which involved a reptile swimming off in a canal with a dog in its mouth.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, alligators are "opportunistic feeders." The website states that adult alligators eat snakes, turtles, birds, and small mammals — the latter of which can include household pets.

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"The most important thing is to be aware of your surroundings. In Florida, if there's a body of water, there may very well be alligators in it. Just assume there's one there, especially in murky or muddy water, and act accordingly," Florida Today wrote.

To keep pets safe in alligator-infested areas, the outlet suggests keeping them on a 6-foot or shorter leash at all times and remaining a safe distance from shorelines.

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