The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating alligator carcasses found in the Caribbean Canal in Fort Myers Shores.
FWC says multiple gators were reported in the canal with missing heads and tails, as well as one larger alligator whose carcass appeared to be mangled but with a head.
FWC told NBC2 today that it could be related to a poaching incident.
Jim Jahnke said he saw two boys pointing at the water near the seawall Saturday.
"Later on, I looked, and I thought it was a fish carcass," Jahnke said. "Well, it happened to be an alligator with no head and no tail. And then further down at the gentleman's house next to it, there was another one down there with no tail."
Jahnke said when he saw the alligator carcass, he thought somebody was poaching the tail for meat and the head for a trophy.
Duane Lietha, who lives right next door, noticed the gator body parts while working on his yard Monday.
"Yesterday I had to cut brush bundle brush here on the dock," Lietha said. "And right here there was that one large chunk that kept floating up to the dock. I even pushed it away a couple of times, hoping it would float away."
Lietha said it had a dead animal smell, and it was loaded with a million flies.
"There was a big swarm of them," he said.
If a person is found guilty of Florida Statute 379.409(1) ; Illegal killing, possessing, or capturing of alligators of other crocodilian or their eggs, is guilty of a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment and/or up to a $5,000 fine.
"I think it's not long enough," Jahnke said. "Let them have a big fine. Let them spend some time. You know. Really? And maybe they'll stop it. Why do you go kill something?"
FWC said if you see something like this, you should call FWC's nuisance hotline for gators. Jim said one of his neighbors did call the hotline on Sunday, but FWC wasn't open.
FWC told NBC2 they will continue to investigate and provide updates when they are able.