An 11.5 Foot 700 Pound Alligator Found Murdered In Texas

A week ago an 11.5 foot, almost 700 pound alligator was found murdered near a creek that is a tributary of the Colorado River in Bastrop County.

Bastrop County is a short distance southeast of Austin.

The murdered gator was discovered after a poacher shot and killed it and posted pictures of his kill on Facebook.

The Facebook posting led to a tip to the Texas Crime Stopper program which got Park and Wildlife officials investigating, which led to the discovery of the body.

I do not know how the Facebook posting provided the clues that led to finding the crime scene.

Alligators are protected in Bastrop County. Alligators used to be an endangered species in Texas. But, the numbers of alligators is growing. There is actually an alligator hunting season now, which opens in a couple weeks.

A game warden was quoted as saying, "gator sightings are still rare and about as common as seeing a bobcat."

Yikes! I've had multiple bobcat sightings.

But no gator sightings.

I think I must be due for an alligator encounter.