Alligator Spotted Swimming In A Lake With A Knife In Its Head

Residents in a small town were stunned when they saw an alligator with a large knife stuck in its head, swimming in a local lake.

The injured reptile was spotted in the Orchard Lakes Estates in Sugar Land, Texas, with the blade embedded close to its eye.

Gators are known to inhabit the surrounding waters with generally little bother to the local community, which is why this bizarre incident has raised so much concern among neighbours.

Erin Weaver was the person who spotted the injured animal. She has lived in the area for six years and sees the reptiles almost every day and it's hard to believe this one would have attacked someone.

Erin Weaver

Speaking to KTRK, she said: "I saw him swimming and then I saw him turn, like swimming towards me, and I saw something sticking out of his head. It looked like a steak knife that was sticking out of his head, I don't know if it was in his eye, but it looked, if it wasn't in his eye it was very close to his eye."

She added: "Never have I seen them aggressive or even defensive, if you walk by and startle, them they just go under water.

"I feel like somebody did this on purpose. I can't imagine this animal going after somebody that they would have to defend themselves, because we've never had that happen before."

KTRK

Ms Weaver's snap was shared on social media and sparked a major effort by the local community to seek help for the injured animal.

She added: "I want to get help for this alligator. I don't want to see an alligator swimming around with a knife in its head and suffering."

The picture has now been brought to the attention of officials at Texas Parks and Wildlife who have said they will be carrying out an evaluation of the alligator on Monday.

KTRK

Speaking to KRTK, Chris Bishop, a Brazos Bend State Park attendant assured residents that the animal was not in any pain and that it could, in fact, live with the blade in its head for several years.

But unsurprisingly, his words haven't done anything to sooth the concerns of the local community.

Jennifer Griffin is one of the residents worried about the animal's welfare.

She said: "I'm horrified that someone would ever do anything like that to an animal - there's no cause for it.

"I wanted to help him, but you know he is a wild animal. Me by myself, I didn't want to do anything."

Topics: Interesting, US News, Weird, Animals, Health

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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