FROGMORE — Finding a dead alligator is likely to be uncommon, even for those who live by the water.

But when Elliot Meng, who lives on U.S. 84 in Frogmore, La., took a dead alligator out of the water near his backyard to find out what it was, he ended up paying $1,100 in a fine and court fees.

Because he took it out of the water and onto his property, Meng was later charged with illegal possession of an alligator.

“He did bring it to his property and at that point he was in possession of it,” Capt. Curtis Belton of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said.

When Meng noticed something in the water near the backyard of his house, he said he got his friend to come out and investigate, which is when they found the alligator.

“We didn’t kill it,” Meng said. “We just found it.”

Because Meng was busy and was going to his mother’s house, he said he didn’t report the alligator immediately. His friend, meanwhile, posted pictures on Facebook.

A game warden then came Meng’s house on April 6. Meng said the game warden told him he had to be given a ticket for illegal possession of an alligator.

“They came out because of the Facebook pictures,” Meng said.

Belton said the alligator had been shot, but they did not charge Meng with killing the alligator.

“We charged him with possessing it,” Belton said.

Belton said if anyone sees a dead alligator it should be left alone, or people can call Operation Game Thief at 1-800-442-2511.