SC DNR charges 2 Ridgeland men with harassing wildlife after posts show baby alligator force-fed beer

Two Ridgeland men were charged Friday with the harassment of an alligator after photos were posted online showing the men pouring beer into the juvenile reptile’s mouth, according to a press release from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

DNR enforcement officers began investigating the case after the agency received multiple emails and messages from the public on May 25, the release states.

The incident took place on May 24, on a public dirt road between Hardeeville and Tillman in Jasper County, according to DNR.

Joseph Andrew Floyd Jr., 20, of Ridgeland, and Zachary Lloyd Brown, 21, of Ridgeland, admitted to officers that they picked up the alligator after they saw it crossing the road, the release states. They then poured beer into the animal’s mouth and took photos to post on social media,. According to Floyd Jr., they then released the alligator and watched it swim away in a nearby pond, the release states.

DNR is filing the misdemeanor charge of harassing wildlife through the state’s alligator management legislation. This charge comes with a maximum fine of $300. The judge who oversees the case in court will determine the men’s final punishment.

There is federal protection in place to ensure alligators are legally harvested for international trade. But for a case like this, no federal protection that applies.

“Alligators are protected under state law and even federal law where they are still listed as threatened solely due to their similarity of appearance to other endangered crocodilians worldwide,” SCDNR Alligator Program Coordinator Jay Butfiloski added.

People who witness the harassment of wildlife should report the incident to 1-800-922-5431.

This story was originally published May 26, 2017 at 8:29 PM with the headline "SC DNR charges 2 Ridgeland men with harassing wildlife after posts show baby alligator force-fed beer."