These first 2 pictures were taken by a KTBS helicopter flying over Lake Thomas, Winter Haven, Florida. The helicopter pilot and the game wardens on the ground were in communication via 2-way radios.
Here is a transcript of their conversation.
‘Air1, have you a visual on the gator, Over’
‘Approaching inlet now, Over’
‘Roger Air1′
‘Gator sighted. Looks like it has a small animal in its mouth….moving in, over’
‘Roger Air1′
‘Oh Crap it’s a Deer!’
‘Confirm Air1.. Did you say Deer?, Over’
‘Roger………a Deer in it’s mouth….looks like a full sized buck….that’s a big gator, boys. We’re gonna need more men, Over’
‘Roger Air1…..can you give me a idea on size of animal, over’
‘Its a big one…..25 feet at least, please advise, gator is heading to inlet….do I pursue?, over’
That has to be a HUGE gator to have a whole deer in its mouth!
The deer was later found to be a mature Stag.
If you ski at the west end of the lake —- try not to fall overboard.
This alligator was found between Lakeland and Winter Haven Florida near the house of Anita and Charlie Rogers, who could hear the beast bellowing in the night.
Their neighbors had been telling them that they had seen a mammoth alligator in the waterway that runs behind their house, but they dismissed the stories as exaggerations.
‘I didn’t believe it,’ Charles Rogers said, but after the alligator was killed, they realized the stories were, if anything, understated.
Game wardens were forced to shoot the alligator. Joe Goff, a 6’5″ tall game warden, shown below, walks past the 28-foot, 1-inch long alligator that he helped shoot and kill in the Rogers’ back yard.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/gatordeer.asp
Hello Diana. Thanks for writing in and giving us this information. It was a pretty big gator, but as always it is great to know the true story. Hugs
Comment by Diana Pawelski — August 30, 2011 @ 13:07
I am very very happy thay got that sucker.
Hello Jennie, please see Diana’s comment. She gave the link to more information on this gator. Hugs
Comment by jennie — August 30, 2011 @ 13:47
I wonder how old that gator was?
Hello George…I don’t think I would have stopped long enough to ask him…I would have been well out of hearing range before I touched ground. LOL Hugs
Comment by George Leask — May 11, 2012 @ 06:42
It’s a hoax. Check it out —> http://forteanzoology.blogspot.com/2009/06/another-alabama-alligator.html
Hello Buck. Thanks for the update. I get lots of stuff from emails. I hope you will write in more often. Thanks again. Hugs
Comment by Buck — September 8, 2012 @ 11:19
anything is possible but I don’t think that Gator was taken from lake Thomas. I use to live on Lake Thomas and never seen a gator over 6 foot. plus deer are rarely seen in that area
Hello Mark. You know the two posts I made on huge Gators are the ones most searched? With everything I have posted about, the gator picture and the shopping bags remain the most looked for. You could be right about it all. I got the picture and story from an email and have no idea of its truth. It seemed Ok,and the pictures were different and from some one I knew. But as your from that area I will go along with what you say. Hugs
Comment by Mark — September 26, 2012 @ 10:16
I dont see the need to kill the Gator relocation to the Florida Everglades or a wild life santuary would’ve been more appropriate. The Alligator was probably 70yrs old know human had been reportedly attack by the gator. It was senseless to shoot the gator.
Hello and welcome. I am not sure if we have the whole story, normally they are very careful about killing gators around here. However if they are a threat to people in some way they do destroy them. I have nothing against gators, but I do respect them. I stay out of their habitat and prefer they try to avoid mine. LOL…. best wises, hugs.
Comment by T. Dunbar — April 24, 2013 @ 15:53