LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- A mother, father and daughter found a reptile that appeared to be an alligator in a creek in a neighborhood in Leavenworth Monday night.

Authorities retrieved the reptile from the creek.

They were holding it Wednesday for Kansas Wildlife officials to pick it up. Wildlife officials also were expected to determine whether it was an alligator, a caiman or something else.

The reptile was about 2 feet long with sharp teeth and could have been dangerous to children and pets, authorities said.

Police said they believed someone had the animal as a pet when it was small and that they dumped it in the creek when it became larger and more dangerous.

"Well certainly this isn't really a domestic animal that you would pet and not one that I would keep around my children," said Lt. Dan Nicodemus, of the Leavenworth Police Department. "I do believe it could inflict some serious injuries even though it's not full size at this point."