Two men arrested for killing alligators in Horry County. Reptiles are active now in SC

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has charged two people with illegally hunting alligators within Horry County.

Gregory Finkel, 23, was arrested April 3 and Blayne Smith, 23, was arrested April 7, both for hunting, taking, possessing, or disposing of alligator parts.

The SCDNR got reports of someone killing an alligator outside of the hunting season, which prompted an investigation, said SCDNR Lt. Charlotte McKee in an email to The Sun News. This led to Finkel’s arrest.

Further probing led to interviews with multiple other suspects, resulting in Smith’s arrest, McKee said. This remains an open investigation.

It’s unclear when or where Finkel and Smith allegedly killed the alligators. The Sun News requested police reports from the incidents.

The SCDNR heavily regulates alligator hunting, only allowing the practice from the second Saturday of September to the second Sunday in October, protocols show. Hunters must apply for and obtain an alligator hunting permit.

Last year a woman was arrested after she allegedly shot at an alligator in her neighborhood pond, The Sun News reported. While she did not hit the gator, she shot at the reptile twice to scare it away.

Alligators more active in the springtime

As spring moves in and temperatures rise, alligators will become more active again, The Sun News previously reported.

The breeding season begins in April and adult alligators are more likely to be seen basking in the sunlight or eating. Young alligators may also be seen moving in and out of the water.

As gators have emerged, they’ve been seen covered in pollen and rust, catching the eye of many, The Sun News reported.