A bizarre incident occurred at a Michigan motel when staff discovered a live alligator hiding under a bed during a routine room cleaning. The three-foot-long reptile, named Wally, was found at the Pine River Motel in Cheboygan County. According to reports, Wally belonged to a collector of exotic animals who often takes his pets to local schools for educational purposes.
The motel manager, Gary, recounted the shocking discovery: "We were just preparing to clean the room when my nephew peeked under the bed and found Wally there. He was quite a sociable gator, so I didn’t feel too frightened. He allowed the officers to hold him and everything; he was truly a friendly alligator." The owner had assumed Wally had escaped into the wild but was unaware that the alligator had been left behind in the room.
Wally, identified as a Cuvier's dwarf caiman, was safely reunited with his owner on the same evening. Despite the initial shock, the situation was handled calmly, and no one was injured. The motel even charged the owner for an extra night's stay due to Wally's extended stay in the room.
This unusual event highlights the unexpected items that hotel staff sometimes encounter. In recent years, hotels have reported finding odd items left behind by guests, including pet lizards and full leg casts.
