CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The alligator in the Humboldt Park Lagoon has caught the attention of one particular Chicago institution: the Field Museum.
Josh Mata works at the Field Museum with a collection of thousands of alligator and crocodile specimens kept in the museum’s sub-sub basement. It is one of the largest such collections in the world.
Mata said he is not concerned so much for the alligator’s safety, since the water in the Humboldt Park Lagoon is warm enough. Mata said he was more concerned for the lagoon’s frogs, birds and fish, which have no defenses against a gator.
"There is not a predator there normally for them so they think it is pretty calm and safe," Mata said.
He also admitted he was worried that someone with little knowledge of alligators might see it and try to capture it — even though it has evaded capture from Alligator Bob since Tuesday night when the traps were set.