A Castro Valley man is in jail and an alligator authorities say he likely had to protect a stash of marijuana has been taken to a zoo.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports ( http://bit.ly/Slr5gA) when Alameda County deputies entered the home of Assif Mayr Wednesday afternoon for a probation check, they found 34 pounds of marijuana and five-foot alligator in a tank in the bedroom.

Sheriff's Sgt. J.D. Nelson says the alligator was likely used as deterrent against marijuana thieves.

Nelson says Mayr was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of possessing marijuana for sale. He was being held in lieu of $160,000 bail.

The alligator was taken to Oakland Zoo. Officials there described it as very sick and said it was being cared for at the zoo's veterinary hospital.