PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Officials believe they have found an alligator that escaped from a wildlife officer who brought the animal to his daughter's school for show and tell.

Stan Kirkland, a spokesman for the Florida wildlife commission, says officials think the 5-foot alligator is in a Panhandle pond. Authorities weren't able to capture the gator Friday.

Searchers scoured a wooded area surrounding the school Friday afternoon after the alligator jumped out of the man's vehicle with its mouth taped shut.

Kirkland says alligators have "amazing" jumping ability and that allowed it to escape.

--- (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) AP-NY-10-31-09 1330EDT