Watch: Deputies in Oklahoma capture escaped caiman after months on the loose

After searching for several months, deputies in Cleveland County, Oklahoma have finally apprehended a pet caiman that had been on the loose in a neighborhood.

What we know:

In August, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) alerted residents that they were searching for the loose caiman and encouraged residents to keep a close eye on their pets and to call 911 if they encounter the caiman.

CCSO says the Adam Night Shift has been searching for the caiman and responding to reports from residents who spotted the caiman near their homes.

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, deputies were able to successfully locate and capture the caiman in a creek behind nearby residences.

CCSO says after consulting with state game wardens, the caiman was returned to its owner.

What is a caiman?

According to SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, caimans are close relatives of alligators and distant cousins to crocodiles. They are native primarily to Central and South America and live along rivers and other bodies of water.

There six living species of caimans are:

• Black caiman
• Spectacled caiman
• Yacare caiman
• Broad-snouted caiman
• Cuvier’s dwarf caiman
• Smooth-fronted caiman

They vary in size, with Cuvier’s dwarf caiman reaching 4 to 5 feet, while the apex predator of the group, the Black caiman, can exceed 15 to 16+ feet in length.

While young, caimans feed on crustaceans, insects, small fish, amphibians, small mammals, and birds and, as adults, feed on fish, birds, other reptiles, amphibians, and various mammals.