Several years ago there was a rumor in our area, here in Tennessee,that an alligator had been seen by several fishermen at a small lake called Bedford Lake. Bedford lake is located near Shelbyville and is run by the Tennessee Wildlife Agency. It has a caretaker on duty to sell daily fishing permits, bait and small boat rentals. No outboard motors are allowed on this lake. The lake is spring fed and is set in a peaceful valley.
A friend of mine, Jerry Moore, verified the story that indeed an alligator did live in the lake. Jerry was a regular fishermen at the lake and asked the caretaker, " Is the story about the alligator just a myth?" " No replied the caretaker he's for real, I have seen him many times." Alligators aren't supposed to live in our climate. The lake has several under water caves and the gator would spend the winter in one of these caves. Does the Wildlife Agency know about the gator? "Yes, they know."
Several weeks later Jerry sees the gator for his first time. WALLY GATOR, that's what fishermen named him, lying on the dam sunning himself. News of Wally Gator was in the local newspapers and on TV. He became a local celebrity. Not the kind of fame old Wally wanted.
Many weeks later on another fishing outing the caretaker tells Jerry. "WALLY GATOR is no longer with us." Well what happen to Wally, Jerry asked?
Several dogs in and around the lake came up missing. One day a man brought his black lab to the lake. He would throw a stick out into the lake and his lab would retrieve the stick and bring it back to his master. On one of the tries the lab doesn't make it back, WALLY GATOR got him!! WALLY is now in deep trouble. The Wildlife Agency hires an alligator hunter from Florida to trap WALLY and return him to Florida. The hunter is not successful in his mission and gives up without trapping old WALLY. Round one belongs to WALLY!
Next the Wildlife Agency send a team of their people to the lake with orders to shoot to kill! This time Wally loses his battle! All that remains are stories about WALLY GATOR by the fishermen who came eyeball to eyeball with WALLY.
People said WALLY was between 10 feet and 12 feet long but Jerry said he was only between 7 feet and 8 feet long. How did WALLY get in the lake. Most people in the know thinks someone had a small pet gator and it got to big for them so they put him in the lake.
A friend of mine, Jerry Moore, verified the story that indeed an alligator did live in the lake. Jerry was a regular fishermen at the lake and asked the caretaker, " Is the story about the alligator just a myth?" " No replied the caretaker he's for real, I have seen him many times." Alligators aren't supposed to live in our climate. The lake has several under water caves and the gator would spend the winter in one of these caves. Does the Wildlife Agency know about the gator? "Yes, they know."
Several weeks later Jerry sees the gator for his first time. WALLY GATOR, that's what fishermen named him, lying on the dam sunning himself. News of Wally Gator was in the local newspapers and on TV. He became a local celebrity. Not the kind of fame old Wally wanted.
Many weeks later on another fishing outing the caretaker tells Jerry. "WALLY GATOR is no longer with us." Well what happen to Wally, Jerry asked?
Several dogs in and around the lake came up missing. One day a man brought his black lab to the lake. He would throw a stick out into the lake and his lab would retrieve the stick and bring it back to his master. On one of the tries the lab doesn't make it back, WALLY GATOR got him!! WALLY is now in deep trouble. The Wildlife Agency hires an alligator hunter from Florida to trap WALLY and return him to Florida. The hunter is not successful in his mission and gives up without trapping old WALLY. Round one belongs to WALLY!
Next the Wildlife Agency send a team of their people to the lake with orders to shoot to kill! This time Wally loses his battle! All that remains are stories about WALLY GATOR by the fishermen who came eyeball to eyeball with WALLY.
People said WALLY was between 10 feet and 12 feet long but Jerry said he was only between 7 feet and 8 feet long. How did WALLY get in the lake. Most people in the know thinks someone had a small pet gator and it got to big for them so they put him in the lake.
Nick I never know when you are pulling my leg or not. Great story though.
ReplyDeleteGreat story, now is it a fiction or is it really true? lol
ReplyDelete