Trinity Western Aliigator?

April 2007, a splashing is seen in the water of a ravine near Trinity Western University. Searches discovered drag marks and claw marks. Is a reptile loose in Langley, British Columbia?

Despite searches and traps, no additional signs were found according the May 1st, 2007 Vancouver Province newspaper account. Yet, what did the people see?

Or, was this as the newspaper account hints a salamander of some sort? After all the account quotes one Barrie Alden the “King of Giant Salamanders” .

British Columbia is no stranger to possible oversized salamanders (or salamander appearing critters) . Pitt Lake, Fraser River, Chilliwack Lake, Cultus Lake and Nitnat Lake all have their reported oversized salamanders or “black alligators”.
Is the Trinity University Alligator another of the cryptic salamanders of British Columbia? Or was it simply a Beaver or Muskrat?