A small alligator is at large in KC’s Northland. What to know about the ongoing search

A petting zoo company has lost a small alligator at a Northland middle school — and the search is on to find the animal.

The alligator measures just 14 inches in length, and was last seen around 11 a.m. Thursday at Lakeview Middle School, which is around 20 minutes northwest of downtown Kansas City.

Here’s what to know about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.

Does the alligator pose a danger to the public?

The alligator’s snout is taped shut, so it is unable to eat or drink until it is rescued, KC Pet Project spokesperson Tori Fugate told The Star.

That means reptile does not pose a threat to people or pets due to its small size and inability to open its mouth. Currently, the creature most at risk is the alligator itself.

Officials from KC Pet Project and the Kansas City Fire Department spent several hours searching the grounds of the middle school Thursday, but they were not able to find it. The search continues Friday morning .

Who brought the alligator to Lakeview Middle School?

A petting zoo company, which hasn’t yet been named publicly, brought the small alligator and other animals to the Northland middle school Thursday for an end-of-the-year celebration. Under Kansas City law, this type of event requires a live animal show permit to ensure the event is safe for the animals and attendees alike.

Lakeview Middle School did not apply for this permit ahead of the event. It will now face citations from KC Pet Project, which runs the city’s animal control department.

Are alligators legal in Kansas City?

Under city ordinance, no one is allowed to “keep or harbor” alligators within city limits. The same goes for crocodiles, caimans, any wild cat species like bobcats and lynxes, any wolves or wolf/dog hybrids, or native wild animals like raccoons, skunks and foxes.

While Kansas Citians are allowed to keep lizards and non-venomous snakes as pets, it’s against city ordinance to “permit a snake or lizard to escape from a cage or while being handled.”

Are alligators allowed in Kansas or Missouri?

In Missouri, it’s illegal to keep any “ deadly, dangerous, or poisonous reptile ” as a pet — unless you register the animal with your local county’s law enforcement agency. There are also exceptions for keeping these animals if you run a zoo, circus, animal shelter, research lab or other institution.

In Kansas, “ dangerous regulated animals ” are defined as most big cats, bears and non-native venomous snakes. Residents who keep these animals are subject to strict regulations — but large reptiles like alligators are not among them.

That means it’s technically legal to keep alligators as pets in both Missouri and Kansas — but not in Kansas City.

What should I do if I see the escaped alligator?

If you spot a small alligator in the area of Lakeview Middle School, keep an eye on it and call KC Pet Project at 816-683-1373. You can also report your sighting online through KC Pet Project’s animal services report form .

Do you have more questions about animal control in Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com .