South Carolina mother on maternity leave nabs 12-foot alligator her family plans to turn into rug
A South Carolina mother of two made headlines recently when she killed a massive 12-foot alligator during a hunting trip with her family. Brittany Livingston, who had just given birth to her second child five months ago, earned the nickname “Gator Girl” after photos and videos of her family transporting the alligator carcass in their truck went viral.
The Livingston family had been planning the alligator hunt on and off for the past five years. In South Carolina, alligator hunting tags are awarded through a lottery system, with thousands of people vying for a limited number of tags each year. After years of denials, Brittany finally received a tag this year and decided to make the most of it, despite the unconventional choice of activity during her maternity leave.
Accompanied by her husband, Matt Livingston, Brittany successfully captured a 597-pound alligator, which they affectionately named “Chomp Norris,” after a challenging hunt through the marshlands. The couple plans to utilize the entire alligator, teaching their children about the importance of respecting and honoring nature in the process.
“We wouldn’t hunt anything if we weren’t going to eat it. We respect the wildlife just as much, and we want it to still be here for our kids,” Matt explained.
The Livingstons intend to turn the alligator into a full-body rug and use the meat to create gator sausages and snack sticks. They have already taken the carcass to a family-owned business specializing in processing wild game, where over 100 pounds of meat products were preserved for display.
Alligator hunting season in South Carolina is limited to September and October, with a small percentage of the state’s estimated 100,000 alligators harvested each year. Despite the challenges and controversy surrounding hunting these animals, the Livingstons are committed to utilizing the alligator in a respectful and sustainable manner.
