I promised to let someone know what has happened to the Alligator that is in my fish pond. As you may know, I called the State Fish & Game Law Enforcement division and requested that it be captured and removed. An officer came and searched around but was unable to locate it. He did find tracks where it had crossed the road going to a couple of other ponds. There had been no request by those property owners for assistance and he didn't search any further. He was told by someone that, an a--hole transported 3 small gators from Louisiana, while on his way home from working offshore oil wells, and dropped them into the pond. This was 4 or 5 years ago and they weren't noticed until this one showed up.

The Game & Fish Officer visited a couple of houses nearby and explained that species of alligator was not a threat to the community, children, or pets. He told them it is an endangered animal and was protected by Federal laws and if anyone fed, trapped, harassed, or killed the animal, they would be charge with a federal crime. That type gator's main diet consists of turtles, snakes (rattlers included), beaver, otter, and frogs. Seldom do they eat fish unless there is nothing else to eat.

While he was talking to one particular family, he said a little 3 year-old boy was standing nearby, listening intently. The little boy walked over to the officer, propped his elbows on the officers knee and said, "I eat alligator." The mother says, "HUSH, we don't eat alligator." The little boy said, "Yes we do Mommy, we eat fried alligator." The officer said there had been no mention of eating alligators. They haven't eaten this one because it has been seen since then but I think the boy heard someone making plans for it.

After the Officer came to try and trap it and visited the homes, that night the road was blocked with vehicles and my place was covered with redneck SOB's shining spotlights into the pond. People had also been shooting at deer across my front lawn. I called the officer and told him about it; and asked him to leave the alligator in the pond and make sure that it was protected because it was not a threat to children or pets. He is aware that the land is posted with "No Trespassing" and "No Hunting" signs. He has reported the incident to the county Sheriff and asked for regular patrols. He called me and said that both the State Fish & Game officers and the Sheriff's department would be making regular day and night patrols to try and catch the people.

I tried to help the community by having the gator(s) removed. After they turned it into a circus, trespassed on my land, and night hunted, I decided to give them what they deserved and asked the Officer not to trap it. I called one of the men involved and told him if I ever heard of or saw anyone on my land again, I would have him charged first and we'd take it from there; that they had better stuff their spotlights and guns where the sun doesn't shine or I would do it for them. He was surprised when I called him about it so early the morning after it happened and how I found out about it with me living over 500 miles away.

A friend told me that I've been called some names that are not used in church; that someone said I'm "dangerous" because they saw me wearing a handgun strapped to my side. I plead guilty because I always do that when I'm alone walking through the woods on my property. LOL