SEBASTIAN — Authorities are investigating after an alligator was found dead with its mouth taped shut and its tail severed, police said.
A concerned neighbor dialed 911 after spotting the 7-foot gator about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday lying motionless near The Watering Hole Park, near Stonecrop Street and Starflower Avenue, Sebastian police Lt. Tim Wood said. The popular park has a waterway that is part of the south prong of the St. Sebastian River.
Wood said whoever took the tail was likely harvesting it for meat. “This is not a common thing,” Wood said in regards to the incident.
Police called Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to pick up the gator.
Wood said the case was handed over to FWC. It was unclear if any suspects were in custody.
Gator hunting season in Florida runs from August 15 through November 1, according to FWC. Those who participate in the Statewide Alligator Harvest Program need a hunting permit.
A Florida hunting or fishing license is not required to hunt for gators.
No further details were available.
