Authorities have seized a 11-foot, 750-pound alligator that was illegally kept at a residence in Hamburg, New York, a town about 20 miles south of Buffalo.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in a news release, said that the alligator was captured Wednesday by officers with the department "in the interest of public safety and the health, safety, and protection of the alligator." It is not immediately clear what prompted the alligator's capture.

"The alligator has numerous health-related issues, including blindness in both eyes and spinal complications," said the department, adding that it was estimated to be around 30 years old.

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Visitors were allowed to view, pet alligator

It was later learned that the alligator's owner originally had a license to keep the wild animal which expired in 2021 and was not renewed, making the possession illegal.

Authorities found that the owner of the home had built an addition to his house and installed an in-ground swimming pool to keep the alligator. He also "allegedly allowed members of the public to get into the water to pet the unsecured alligator".

The alligator was turned over to a licensed caretaker, "who will house and care for the animal until it can be properly transported for permanent care," said the news release.

The department said that charges against the owner will be determined after all evidence is analyzed and a licensed veterinarian assesses the wild animal and its health.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.

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