![Humboldt Park Lagoon](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Humboldt_Park_Lagoon.jpg)
Chance the Snapper is a four
[ to five][ foot long ]American alligator
The American alligator (''Alligator mississippiensis''), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two extant species in the gen ...
that was found swimming in the Humboldt Park lagoon, in Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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, Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...
, on the evening of July 9, 2019. The animal was named after Chance the Rapper in an online poll conducted by the ''Block Club Chicago
''Block Club Chicago'' is an online newspaper that reports local and neighborhood news in Chicago. The website operates as a non-profit, subscription-based service.
After ''DNAinfo'' was shut down in November 2017, ''Block Club Chicago'' was fo ...
'' news website, beating other suggested nicknames such as Ruth Gator Ginsberg, Croc Obama, and Frank Lloyd Bite. The alligator inspired several social media accounts, and was the subject of national news coverage.
Experts have stated that the Humboldt Park alligator was likely an illegal pet before being released into the lagoon, and that it would not survive low temperatures in winter if it was not removed. The alligator was considered to be a possible danger, and signs were put up to warn visitors. After more than two days without a sighting, Chance was spotted alive at 1:30 p.m. on July 13 by a Humboldt Park resident. Chance the Snapper was under the watch of Chicago Herpetological Society's "Alligator Bob", who on July 14 stated that the creature was "getting comfortable" in the lagoon and had continued to move further into the water, as well as resisting food, perhaps indicating that he had found a steady food supply.[ On Sunday, July 14 the city hired Frank Robb, an "alligator trapping agent" and owner of EEARSS.ORG in ]Cocoa, Florida
Cocoa is a city in Brevard County, Florida. The population was 19,041 at the 2020 United States Census. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne– Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History Etymology
Several stories circulate amon ...
, to catch the gator after he was recommended by local experts there. At Robb's suggestion, a large part of the park was closed off, to keep people away from the gator in hopes that it would feel less of a need to hide. Chance the Snapper was caught by Robb early Tuesday morning, July 16, 2019. Chance was captured on July 16, 2019, and found to be a male and in good health. The alligator was given over to Chicago Animal Care and Control,[ who sent him to live at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, in St. Augustine, Florida due to no Chicago parks being interested.]
When Chance was captured, the ''Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television a ...
'' reported that he was long and weighed about .[ Upon his arrival in Florida, the '' St. Augustine Record'' reported that he was long and weighed .] A veterinarian at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm estimated the alligator's age at 4 to 6 years.[
After he captured the alligator, Robb was honored by the Chicago Cubs by being asked to throw out the first pitch at ]Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the home of the Chicago Cubs, one of the city's two MLB franchises. It first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charles Weeghman's Chicago ...
for their July 16 night game against the Cincinnati Reds. He was also asked to turn on Buckingham Fountain
Buckingham Fountain is a Chicago Landmark in the center of Grant Park, between Queen's Landing and Ida B. Wells Drive. Dedicated in 1927 and donated to the city by philanthropist Kate S. Buckingham, it is one of the largest fountains in the ...
in Grant Park the following day.
The alligator inspired the creation of merchandise such as a full coloring book- featuring the story of "Chicago Chance and Frank Robb", Chance the Snapper bobblehead
A bobblehead, also known by common silly nicknames such as nodder, wobbler, or wacky wobbler, is a type of small collectible action figure. Its head is often oversized compared to its body. Instead of a solid connection, its head is connected t ...
figurine and two locally brewed beers, Revolution Brewing's Humboldt Gator and Urban Renewal Brewery's The Humble Gator.
References
{{Reflist
Individual alligators
2010s in Chicago
2019 in Illinois
Chance the Rapper