Loose Alligator Reported in Iowa Turns Out to Be Life-Size Plush Toy On 5/5/21 at 2:17 PM EDT The Animal Rescue League of Iowa was called to a Des Moines apartment complex earlier this week after it was reported that a four to five-foot alligator was on the loose. What they found, however, was something quite a bit more cuddly. According to ARL Animal Services, the reptile in question wasn't a reptile at all. Instead of a real alligator, the officer at the scene was met by a life-sized stuffed animal. "Our Animal Services Officers respond to calls about wildlife every day, but a call yesterday was a little EXTRA wild -- a 4-5-foot alligator!" posted ARL Animal Services on their Facebook page. "Residents of a Des Moines apartment complex walked out and were startled to see a large reptile resting in the parking lot," they explained. The residents then "immediately reported it and waited anxiously until our Animal Services Officer arrived"