Police caught a young alligator sunbathing near a pond in Long Island, N.Y. on Saturday.

According to published reports, a woman leading a nature group in the Huntington part of Long Island discovered the alligator and alerted the police.

The alligator was green with yellowish stripes and just under three feet long. It also seemed to be about two or three years old.

Authorities believe the alligator, native to the South, was released after living in captivity. Although it is believed the alligator could grow as large as 13 feet, the animal might not be capable of protecting itself in the wild.

It is illegal in the state of New York to own an alligator, authorities said. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is looking for whoever released the alligator. The SPCA is offering a $500 reward for information that could convict whoever released the animal.

The person(s) could be charged with animal cruelty and illegally possessing an alligator in New York.