The state agency investigating the claim of an alligator attacking a dog in Huntsville earlier this year could not find definitive proof that the incident occurred.

“The gist of it is, we’re not exactly sure what happened in this instance,” Marianne Gauldin of the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources told AL.com on Thursday.

But regardless of what happened, Gauldin stressed that pet owners need to be on alert in areas where alligators are known to live.

A Huntsville man last week told WAFF-Channel 48 in Huntsville that the family’s golden retriever ran through some brush and “got taken by what the father believes was a nearly 15-foot long alligator,” the television station reported. The incident occurred in May in south Huntsville and the television station said the man asked that his name not be used.

In a statement released Wednesday, Huntsville city officials said the city was working with the Department of Natural Resources & Conservation. Huntsville police also referred questions about the incident to the conservation department.

Gauldin said the state agency did not get to view the dog or do any analysis of its injuries. No alligator was found in a search of the area where the incident occurred, though alligators are known to be in the area, Gauldin said.

“In this particular instance, whatever killed the dog, which may have been an alligator, the actual incident was not witnessed,” Gauldin said. “Alligators have been seen in the area … and the dog was found dead. What exactly happened? We may never know.

“But it is a good reminder for everybody to make sure that they’re being cautious in areas around alligators and watching their pets and being wary of their own safety as well.”

Alligators have been known to habitat in the natural greenway along Haysland Road in south Huntsville, which includes wetlands and ponds. There is a walking trail through the greenway that extends along Haysland Road.

The city has posted signs in the area along the walking trail cautioning about the presence of alligators and, in response to the claim of the dog attack, said in its statement more signs will go up “around the swamp and pond areas where people might venture off the greenway.”

While alligator sightings have become almost routine in Huntsville as well as in Madison, no attacks have been reported until the incident with the dog. However, Gauldin said alligators are known to eat other animals even if they typically avoid contact with humans.

“It’s normal for alligators to attack other animals,” Gauldin said. “It’s not normal for alligators to show aggression towards people. And so, alligators attacking other animals is how they survive. That’s what they do. They eat other animals, but alligators that are doing that are not showing abnormal behavior. So, alligators that are not being wary of people are showing abnormal behavior, but alligators attacking other animals besides people is not abnormal behavior.”

Whether that was the case in this instance, Gauldin said, remains a mystery.

Asked about having not been any reports of alligator attacks in Huntsville, Gauldin said, “I’d venture to say there’s still not. I mean, is it possible? Sure, it’s possible. There’s wildlife species that can absolutely take, injure, and kill loose pets. So that would include alligators and coyotes, both of which are found in Huntsville. So, was this dog killed by an alligator? There’s no way for us to know for sure. It was found dead in a wetland area. It was not consumed. There was no necropsy.

“The dog went missing in an area where alligators had been seen. And the dog was found dead but was not eaten and there was no necropsy. No one saw an alligator attack a dog. Alligators could absolutely do something like that, and which is why we definitely advise that you keep pets away from areas where alligators are going to be.”

The conservation department said that pets are similar in size to natural prey for alligators and their movements can attract an alligator’s interest.

And if an alligator is encountered that poses a threat or a nuisance, concerns should be communicated to your local Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries office.