An alcohol-fueled social media prank has landed two men in hot water after they were pictured force feeding an alligator beer.
South Carolina residents Zachary Lloyd Brown, 21, and Joseph Andrew Floyd, 20, have been charged by state police over a bizarre incident which saw a young alligator plied with booze.
Images of the so-called ‘gator shotgun’ shows a baby alligator’s throat being held open before a can of beer is poured into its mouth.
The two men have admitted to a charge of harassment, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). The environmental department reported the men to police after launching an investigation after pictures of the incident emerged online on May 24.
READ MORE: Easter crocodile hunters of Costa Rica (VIDEO)
“This case is a good example of why we strive to educate people about wildlife in hopes they will respect it,” said SCDNR Sergeant Earl Pope.
The men later released the animal into a nearby pond.
Alligators are protected under South Carolina state and federal law. If convicted of the misdemeanor, the two men could be hit with $200 fine or up to 30 days in jail.
READ MORE: 10yo girl beats 8ft alligator by gouging its nostrils