STARKE COUNTY -- Two Starke County men made a shocking discovery Sunday afternoon when they found a dead alligator while fishing on the Kankakee River.
According to the Indiana DNR, Jeff Brewer and his father Steve Brewer discovered the dead alligator stuck in a logjam about two miles downstream from the English Lake public access site.
A press release states that The Brewers had just launched their boat when Jeff spotted the foot and tail of an alligator.
The Brewers used a net to retrieve the gator from the water and returned to the boat launch to meet with a DNR officer.
The gator measured 4 feet, 7 inches and its mouth had been taped shut.
DNR officials say the alligator appeared to be dead for a while. They also stated because its mouth was taped shut, it was a sign that it might have been a pet that was no longer wanted and was released into the river.
"There is no possibility that an alligator can survive Indiana's climate, let alone with its mouth taped shut unable to feed," said Indiana Conservation Officer Keith Wilderman.
According to state law, those possessing crocodilians over 5 feet in length require a permit from the IDNR Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Anyone with any information about the gator is urged to contact conservation officers at 1-800-TIP-IDNR.
