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Police Chief Says Mon Gator May Never Be Found

BELLE VERNON, Pa. (KDKA/AP) - A police chief says an alligator reportedly spotted in a western Pennsylvania river may never be found - or even confirmed.

Southwest Regional Police Chief John Hartman says Friday that nobody has seen the animal since two people reportedly spotted it in the Monongahela River in Belle Vernon on Tuesday.

The report indicated the alligator was about 7 feet long.

Thursday Hartman said six more alligator sightings were reported after news reports were published.

Hartman says it's possible the animal hitched a ride on a barge from a warmer spot down South, or was an exotic pet that was released by its owner or escaped into the river.

Police have consulted with the U.S. Coast Guard and Pittsburgh Zoo officials and determined that the alligator - if that's what it was - could survive even though the river remains relatively cold.

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(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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