A group of hunters in Florida may have harvested one of the largest alligators in state history. According to CNN, the massive reptile was taken in Okeechobee by a group of hunters consisting of Lee Lightsey, his son, a professional guide, and two visitors. Lightsey is the owner of Outwest Farms, an outfitter that focuses on boars and alligators. They later weighed the animal to be around 780 pounds and just short of 15 feet.
âWe were on a hunt for hogs and happened to come across the gator. There are natural ponds and waterways around for the cows to drink,â guide Blake Godwin told CNN.
This gator however, was especially dangerous. Local media reported that the alligator was suspected to be attacking livestock and in some cases, even eating cattle. Its alleged spree finally came to an end when hunters flushed it out of its watering hole on Saturday. Godwin says they found cattle remains in the pond, and will check the reptileâs stomach contents for more evidence.
It may be big, but it is not quite the biggest in Florida history. State officials say that the heaviest alligator in the books is a titanic 1,043-pound monster. The hunters say they have little interest in having the animal certified for a record, but will be mounting it. A portion of the meat will also be donated to the needy.
âIt is hard to believe that something this big exists in the wild,â Godwin told Fox 13. âHunting is a way of life for us and we are very proud of it!â