Public urged to watch for alligator

VERSAILLES, Mo. -- The Morgan County Sheriff's Department wants area residents to be on the lookout for a missing alligator that's thought to be somewhere near the Lake of the Ozarks.

Officials say the 4-to-5-year-old alligator was reported missing Thursday. It was being kept as a pet and reportedly was taken from the residence.

The animal is 4 to 5 feet long, has been raised in captivity and for a while was part of a traveling show, officials said.

Deputies say they don't know where the alligator might be so the public needs to keep an eye out for it. But they warn anyone who finds it against trying to touch it and to call the sheriff's office instead.