KHOU (Houston, Texas) 13 April 07 Mama gator shot in eye (Brad Woodard)
When it comes to sympathetic figures, an alligator lurking in the muddy waters of a bayou probably is not the first image that pops into your head. However, a mother and her babies -- that's a different story.
In the shadows of Bay Oaks Country Club in Clear Lake mama gator, affectionately named Alice by area residents has quietly and dutifully tended to her hatchlings, which at one point numbered 18.
But bystanders have not always been kind.
“You think about the injury to the poor alligator. She’s a mama,” exclaimed Lori Loper.
While most people have been respectful, a handful has not, throwing rocks and trash in hopes of getting a rise out of the reptile.
And it doesn't stop there.
“Apparently some young teenage boys shot an arrow into her eye. From what I can see it's just underneath her right eye,” said resident Melanie Blake.
Residents said the gator’s eye, which now appears to be on the mend, was swollen shut for two days. The arrow itself since disappearing in the mud.
That said; as appalling as it sounds. It's not necessarily illegal to shoot a gator with an arrow. Because the alligator doesn't have an owner. You see, under current animal cruelty statutes in Texas, there is no protection for stray or wild animals.
But residents said teenagers were seen capturing some of the hatchlings, which is against the law. Efforts are under way to find them.
“I just don't understand why people think they can hurt anything just because they can. It's not okay. It's unacceptable. When children maliciously hurt an animal, there's something wrong. It’s not normal behavior,” said Blake.
But an all too normal impasse in the debate surrounding the welfare of animals. Cute and cuddly -- or not.
Mama gator shot in eye