A West Alabama city is on gator watch, after a large alligator was spotted at Lake Louise in Sumter County.

City officials in York have issued an alert and closed the lake, located just outside the city limits.

"Nuisance control [has been contacted]," says York Police Chief Brian Harris, "which will be here sometime later this week, so hopefully we can get the gator removed safely removed."

Police hope to have the problem resolved in time for a fishing rodeo scheduled at the lake later this month, but right now, they are playing it safe.

The alligator is estimated to be 10-12 feet long, and it's not known if it is the only gator currently in the area.