LA CENTER, Wash. - Clark County animal control officers went fishing Wednesday for something that does not belong around here - an alligator that nearly bit a fisherman.

The gator, described as about 3 feet long, was caught at a pond in a rural area near Northeast 39th Avenue and Northeast 379th Street - land owned by the Bonneville Power Administration.

Workers think the gator was a pet that someone dumped there.

“We don’t know how the alligator got there, but it was very important to get it under capable supervision because alligators are classified as potentially dangerous animals in Washington,” said Linda Moorhead, Clark County animal control manager, in a press release.

BPA officials said the company is constantly dealing with illegal dumping. But they have never found a gator before.

Bob Austin, with BPA, said he was glad the small gator was no longer a hazard. It was not the first one he has caught. It has been 30 years but Austin said he used to catch alligators and crocodiles in the Everglades in Florida.

Wednesday's discovery was taken to the Southwest Washington Humane Society, which will try to find a responsible group to take care of the animal.

A new law that took effect on July 22 prohibits people from having alligators or other "potentially dangerous" animals except under very limited circumstances. However, people who can document that they obtained such animals before July 22 are allowed to keep them, animal control officials said.

People with questions about the law and ways to handle dangerous animals should call Clark County animal control at (360) 397-2488.

Meanwhile, BPA officials asked anyone who sees illegal dumping on their land to call (800) 437-2744. You could collect a $25,000 reward.