HUMBOLDT PARK β Chance the Snapper is one dashing gator.
The famed inhabitant of the Humboldt Park lagoon was captured early Tuesday and made his big debut at a news conference in his honor that morning. He didn’t say much (because alligators can’t talk) but his captor, Frank Robb, did remove Chance from a box to show the 5-foot-3 gator to the world.
And, as it turns out, Chance is quite debonair: The gator was wearing a red and black plaid bow tie for his big press conference.
The gator and his adorable bow tie quickly captured hearts, with hundreds of people sharing photos of the little guy in his fancy clothing.
Kelley Gandurski, executive director of Animal Care and Control, thought of putting the bow tie on Chance because Animal Control often dresses up animals, said spokeswoman Jenny Schlueter.
“We wanted to bring a little levity to the situation,” Schlueter said.
Here’s how Chicagoans reacted:
Do stories like this matter to you? Subscribe to Block Club Chicago. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicagoβs neighborhoods.