BELMONT, N.C. -- A man fishing on the Catawba River on Sunday got quite a surprise.

Antonio Figueroa said he was fishing at Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park in Belmont when he came across a dead alligator floating in the water.

He posted photos of the gator on his Facebook page and called North Carolina Wildlife officers.

Officials say the alligator was more than five feet long and not native to this region of the state.  

They also say the alligator was seen alive Saturday.

There's no word on how it may have died.