Alligator Harvested Includes 20 Pound Anchor In Stomach

    The annual Florida alligator harvest is underway, with hunters taking to the state’s waters through November 1. In the past week, two large alligators were harvested out of the St. Johns River, with one of the animals being found to have a unique item lodged in its stomach.
   The hunting team of area residents Allen Bates III, Clayton Wiggins, Marshall Wiggins, and Benny Krupski posted early bragging rights on September 12, bringing in a 12-foot, four-inch alligator, and an 11-foot, nine-inch alligator. The group struck again on September 14, when the Wiggins and Bates struck again, boating an 11-foot, six-inch gator in the waters of the St. Johns.
   During the processing of the carcass, one of the gators was found to have a very unique item in its stomach.
   "When the processor cleaned it, they found that at some point that he had swallowed a 20-pound boat anchor," said Bates this week. "It was still in his stomach."