A 4-foot-long crocodile found roaming the streets of North Eugene last Friday was returned his owner over the weekend. Lane County Animal Control Officers and Eugene Police worked together on Friday, June 24, to capture the crocodile later identified as "Tank," who had escaped from his cage. The crocodile's owner was on his way back East when he heard a news report about Tank's escape.

"It's not the first time we've come across an unusual reptile, but it's certainly one of the biggest we've encountered in some time," said Mike Wellington, LCARA Program Manager. "We're just glad that, with the help of the Eugene Police Department, we were able to round him up safely, and get him back to his owner."

Police and animal control officers were called out to a residential area on Lindley Lane, off Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., after getting a report of a "small alligator" at large. Two LCARA officers located and captured the 4-foot-long caiman, an American crocodile species related to the alligator.

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