A 3-foot-long alligator, apparently left alone for days, wasn't in a good mood when found by an apartment manager, police in West St. Paul, Minn., say.

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"The alligator was hissing," city police Chief Bud Shaver said. "It was probably cold, and it was probably hungry."

The chief said an employee at the Minnesota Zoo suggested feeding it live goldfish or balled-up hamburger, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Friday.

"Someone threw a few hot dogs in there," Shaver said. "When you're hungry, you'll eat anything, I guess."

The gator was discovered by an apartment manager checking on an open patio door last week. The tenant, Mary Peng, was in the process of moving out at the time and was not available for comment, the newspaper said.

Shaver said no charges had been filed, though harboring an unregistered alligator violates the city's exotic animal ordinance.

"It's gone now and that's all we cared about," an unidentified apartment manager said.