Great Grandmother Kills Massive 580-Pound Alligator In East Texas

GOODRICH, TX — A 73-year-old great grandmother and mayor from East Texas has gone viral after she shot and killed a giant alligator on her ranch Monday morning. Livingston Mayor Judy B. Cochran killed the 12-foot, 580-pound alligator on her ranch in Goodrich.

She believes the beast ate one of her miniature horses several years ago.

"A friend had set the bait on Sunday night and called Monday morning that the gator had taken the bait and he was very large," Cochran told Patch. "I was surprised that I killed him with one shot."

Polk County has a hunting season for alligators between Sept. 10 and 30 so long as you have a permit and tags from a wildlife biologist, among other criteria, Cochran told the Houston Chronicle.

The alligator is currently being processed by a taxidermist, Cochran told the Chronicle. She plans on eating some of the meat, mounting the alligator's head, and turning some of the animal into boots.

(For more news and information like this, subscribe to Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Photos via Scott Hughes