South Carolina men charged for forcing alligator to drink beer

May 30 (UPI) -- Wildlife officials in South Carolina said two men are facing charges after Snapchat photos showed them forcing a baby alligator to drink beer.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said Ridgeland residents Joseph Andrew Floyd Jr., 20, and Zachary Lloyd Brown, 21, are facing misdemeanor charges of harassing wildlife after investigators were made aware of a Facebook post containing saved Snapchat photos of the men handling a baby alligator.

The photos show the men pouring beer "shotgun" style into the gator's mouth and blowing smoke into the reptile's face.

"Wildlife conservation is a big part of what SCDNR officers do each day," SCDNR 1st Sgt. Earl Pope said. "This case is a good example of why we strive to educate people about wildlife in hopes that they will respect it."

The department said Floyd told investigators he and Brown found the alligator trying to walk across a road. He said the animal was released into a nearby pond, where it appeared to be swimming away without difficulty.

"Alligators are protected under state law and even federal law where they are still listed as threatened solely due to their similarity of appearance to other endangered crocodilians worldwide," SCDNR Alligator Program Coordinator Jay Butfiloski said.

Floyd and Brown are each facing fines of up to $300.