Alligator captured in Passaic River in Elmwood Park

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. (WABC) -- Twenty-four hours after an alligator was pulled from a New Jersey river Wednesday morning, officials still are unsure how it got there.

"We do not know where the alligator came from," said a spokesperson for New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. "As it's uncommon to find alligators in New Jersey waterways, it's likely that someone let this alligator loose. As for the animal's future, we have a list of all zoos in New Jersey in addition to various education and scientific institutions out of state, so we will be reaching out to those contacts in order to find a new home for the alligator."

A person who was fishing in the Passaic River in Elmwood Park spotted the alligator in the river at about 8:30 a.m., according to Elmwood Park police. Police, firefighters and wildlife officials were all involved in capturing the animal.

The state Department of Environmental Protection said the gator is 4 to 5 feet long and appears to be in good condition.

The DEP said an alligator would never survive the water temperatures during a New Jersey winter.

State Fish and Wildlife Division will now try to find it a safe, permanent home.

State officials are reaching out to several organizations, in and out of state. The gator is currently in a secure location.