Video: Men drag alligator by rope in Jasper Co. before hauling it away. DNR investigating

State authorities are investigating after two men were caught on camera dragging an alligator they had lassoed out of a lagoon Tuesday morning in Jasper County. The witness says the pair forced the tied-up gator into their vehicle’s trunk and drove away with their license plate covered.

Travis Goudy, a resident of the Okatie Park community near the border of Beaufort and Jasper counties, was near the back of the neighborhood around 11 a.m. Tuesday when he heard laughter and splashing sounds. He followed the noise to see two men pulling an alligator across a nearby grassy area — one held a rope that was tied to the reptile’s tail while the other carried a fishing rod, which also appeared to be attached to the animal.

As Goudy approached, he warned the men they were breaking the law. The American alligator is a highly protected species in South Carolina, and trapping one is a misdemeanor punishable by a $2,500 fine or 30 days in jail, according to the South Carolina Department of Resources.

“They said they don’t care,” Goudy told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. “They just kept going.”

Goudy tried to get a view of their license plate, he said, but one of the men stepped in front of the car’s backside to block his view. Dragging the animal across the concrete, the other man tried goading the gator into biting him, he said.

“He was literally trying to get the alligator to bite me,” he said. “If you listen closely, you can hear him saying ‘Get his a**.’”

Fearing the situation might escalate, Goudy distanced himself from the men, he said. He watched the pair toss the gator into the back of their trunk, hanging a T-shirt over their license plate before driving away, he added.

The video was passed on to wildlife officials at DNR when they arrived to the scene, Goudy said. Agency spokesperson Greg Lucas said officers were “actively working” on the case as of Wednesday.

Goudy recognized the gator that was taken, he said, as he frequently saw it in the same lagoon in Okatie Park over the years.

“He had some really cool yellow stripes going across his tail,” he said. “Me and my neighbor … we’re always careful to keep our dogs away from the pond, but we like to watch (the alligators).”

Alligator harassment in Beaufort County

Tuesday morning’s incident was one of many examples of humans mistreating alligators near Beaufort County, where residents often clash with the apex predators who are native to the area.

In May 2020, a local animal control company was reprimanded by DNR and locals alike after they allowed 20-30 tourists to sit on top of a bound 12-foot alligator that was removed from a mini golf course on Hilton Head Island.

On Fripp Island in 2021, DNR sought to charge a man who was photographed holding a large alligator’s tail.

Fripp was the scene of another case of suspected harassment in 2022, when a group of men were seen grabbing a gator by the tail and hurling it toward a nearby pond. “Throw him in the pool!” one man was heard yelling in a video of the incident.

And just a few months later, Beaufort County police cited three teenagers for tying an alligator to a fence with a slipknot on Hilton Head. Each of the teens faced fines totaling $260, DNR said.

What to do if you see an alligator

DNR recommends residents follow these rules when encountering alligators in the South Carolina Lowcountry:

Don’t feed alligators. This is a most important rule as feeding alligators threatens the safety of both people and animals. Providing food for these wild animals makes them bolder and encourages them to seek out people Keep your distance. Although they may look slow and awkward, alligators are extremely powerful and can move with a startling burst of speed on land over short distances. Do not attempt to move alligators out of the road. If you see an alligator on the move, leave it alone and let it pass on through. Alligators move the most in spring and summer when they are breeding. It is illegal to harass or throw things at alligators. They are living organisms that warrant respect and it is not productive to annoy them. Never disturb nests or small alligators. Some female alligators protect their young and may become aggressive if provoked. Do not attempt to keep alligators as pets. Keeping a baby alligator as a pet is a foolish idea, not to mention illegal in some states. Keep your pets and children away from alligators. Large alligators do not recognize the difference between domestic pets and wild food sources. It is best to avoid swimming in areas that are known habitats for large alligators but at the least, never swim alone. Do not corner alligators if participating in recreational activities, such as skiing, canoeing, kayaking, or even taking photographs.

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