PRIOR LAKE, Minn. — On a rainy Monday, 9 year old Quinlynn Lehrmann looks out at Prior Lake and wonders what else she might find.
"So many different creatures out there," said Lehrmann.
Not too long ago, she made the most unusual of catches at her grandparents' pier.
"Kind of a lucky find," said Lehrmann.
She found a 27-inch dead alligator.
"A little excited, but I was also scared," said Lehrmann.
She and her family called the DNR.
"I said place it in the freezer and, when I return to town, I will pick it up," said Conservation Officer James Fogarty.
He still had the frozen gator Monday.
"Dwarf Caiman part of the alligator family," said Fogarty. "Certainly wouldn't want to find it in the water while I'm swimming or fishing."
James says Minnesota's cold weather likely killed the gator.
"Most likely someone's pet and most likely escaped their care or released," said Fogarty.
Lehrmann's find is making plenty of rounds on social media. A Facebook post is already approaching 3,000 shares.
"Happy I found it because it would have just been sitting there laying," said Lehrmann.
The DNR is investigating are trying to identify and contact the owner of the gator.