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Monday, September 20, 2010 10:53am PDT

Petite woman who bagged monster alligator defends trophy hunt

By: Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com

Maryellen Mara-Christian last week caught and killed what some might perceive to be a genuine monster: an American alligator measuring more than 13 feet and weighing more than 1,000 pounds.

Now, it seems, the hunter has become the hunted.

Her story, which played out over two chaotic hours on Lake Moultrie in South Carolina, made national headlines and morning and evening news shows. They found it remarkable that a woman who stands just 5 feet 5 and weighs only 120 pounds could wrangle such a mammoth beast.

Afterward, however, some people became outraged by the methods used to dispatch the great reptile: baited fishing lines, followed by harpoons, a muzzle snare, shots from a .22-caliber weapon and, ultimately, a knife jab to the spinal cord.

"This woman should be in jail, not on TV," was among the tamer comments posted beneath a story on Carolinalive.com.

"They tortured that alligator for hours. That's just plain sick," a Bostonherald.com reader chimed in.

The hunter, who is from Massachusetts and received help from her husband and a guide, defended her actions and correctly stated that hunting of gators is legal in South Carolina and a limited seasonal hunt is how the state's wildlife agency keeps their numbers in check.

"I enjoy nature and animals a great deal and I understand why there is a reason for hunting," Mara-Christian told the Boston Herald. "I hunt because I want these creatures to be here forever."

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources states in the introduction of an online hunters' guide:

"The alligator hunting season is integral to the conservation of the American alligator in South Carolina, adds to the value of the animal and allows hunters to benefit from this sustainable and renewable natural resource."

The online guide also lists devices that can be used to attach a restraining line to the dangerous reptiles, after they've been baited and brought alongside the boat. They include hand-held snares, harpoons, gigs, arrows and snatch hooks.

Alligators are typically dispatched with a bang-stick or a handgun.

Mara-Christian's gator is a serious trophy. American alligators rarely exceed 10 feet and top out at about 13 feet. The male specimen captured by Mara-Christian was estimated to be between 60-75 years old, and very near the end of its lifespan.

"I was hoping for something around 10 feet," she told the Berkeley Independent. "We never imagined landing something like this."

-- Top image showing Maryellen Mara-Christian with her prized 'gator is courtesy of Dan Brown / Berkeley Independent

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Georgia Aquarium mourns death of prized beluga whale calf

They initially became concerned when the calf was born and needed assistance from the divers to bring it to the surface to breathe

A beglua whale calf born Friday night at the Georgia Aquarium has died, despite receiving 24-hour nurturing from animal care experts at the Atlanta facility.

"This is an extremely sad day for the Georgia Aquarium family. Over the past few days, our veterinary and animal care teams have been giving around-the-clock care to Maris and her calf," Gregory Bossart, chief veterinary officer, said in a news release issued Wednesday. "We initially became concerned when the calf was born..

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Posted by hailey light September 21, 2010 05:40pm PDTReply | Report Abuse

Wow. If you must kill everything around you that doesn't appeal to you, you can at least be respectful about it and put the creature out of it's misery instead of torturing it to the end. If she didn't know how to kill it, she had no right to be hunting, and if she did, then she needs to be checked out by a professional for abusing animals. People keep saying it would have killed her otherwise, but at least the alligator does it for food and kills quickly, instead of getting pleasure out of watching its pray slowly die in agony the way some disgusting people do. I do know why we have to hunt to keep populations down and I'm all for it, but only if you're going to do it right the first time.

Reply by dare0077 September 21, 2010 05:47pm PDTReport Abuse

Are you for real? So, would you like to be killed quickly for food then?

Reply by adam gregg September 21, 2010 05:57pm PDTReport Abuse

Hailey light.. are you serious? NO ONE here has ANY idea what they are talking about... yet they are all trying to sound like the authority on the subject.. I cannot believe how ignorant some of you people are.

Reply by chrisbdba September 21, 2010 06:27pm PDTReport Abuse

hailey what works to kill one alligator won't work for the next one that is why there is more than ne way to kill them.You don't know how big it is until the line is pulled out of the water then you have seconds to decide beofre you are the fod.

Reply by dylan baker September 21, 2010 09:42pm PDTReport Abuse

Alligators don't kill that quickly first of all and you have no idea how hard it is to take down an average size gator it doesn't happen in one shot even to the head, unless you have a very powerful gun and want to blow the damn head off of it. They have very strong skin and quick refllexes and movements even an expert would of had difficulty taking this down.

Reply by molinyc September 22, 2010 07:00am PDTReport Abuse

that is right hailey - but according to some of these expert "outdoor enthusiasts" there is nothing wrong with this bitc** killing this gorgeous animal...just for the hell of it...nothing wrong w trophy hunting? knuckle dragging idiots - if you kill it eat it - i'd love to stuff this animal down this woman's throat........better yet ...fish hook up her a$$ then hang her from the nearest power line..that is real trophy hunting.

Reply by dare0077 September 22, 2010 12:01pm PDTReport Abuse

Please read the articles or background information before making ignorant comments. It was not for the hell of it . The woman was sought after, after several complaints from neighbors of the beast roaming near by.

Maybe they should have captured the Gator and put it on your front lawn since you're ok with it .

In addition, she did take the Gator meat to store for food. Unfortunately, some people like to make harsh judgements without getting all the facts. Case in point.

Please stay out of jury pools in the future

Reply by barryosama September 22, 2010 08:59pm PDTReport Abuse

seems some of you tree huggers dont have a clue of what your saying... killing a gator isn't easy.. and molinyc the gator was skinned and the meat processed.. your a douchbag

Reply by dans777 September 23, 2010 07:02am PDTReport Abuse

Well, actually my family is very good friends with this woman and her family. I know for a fact that they will be eating the meat from the gator and what they don't want goes straight to shelter's so homeless/poor can have a meal too! All of you who think she does this just for fun and fun alone are extremely ignorant and have no idea what you're talking about! Can you not read the signs in the background that say..."Alligator Processing"!! How many of you who've posted on this know them and know their intentions? None of you!!! So before you get on your high horse and start talking about shoving things up or down any of her orafaces, step back and think about what you're saying and think about if you have any right to say it. Because last time I checked, every person in existence do things they shouldn't or things other people think they shouldn't...including you.

Reply by dans777 September 23, 2010 09:24am PDTReport Abuse

Wow, do you feel better about yourself now that you've made yourself look worse than any hunter could ever look? Way to be an adult about things. And she isn't a dumb redneck white trash piece of crap woman either. Judging by your comments, she's quite a bit more classy than you are "captcrunch". And as far as your comment about me going as her bait...you're a sick, sadistic person to even say that about anyone! What the heck is wrong with you?! I don't agree with or like anything that you've posted on this blog but I still would'nt ever wish that upon you, or anyone else for that matter. As far as the slavery thing goes, that's not even close to being the same sort of issue. Of course slavery is wrong and you're an idiot for pulling a race card out in a debate about an alligator!

Reply by molinyc September 23, 2010 10:47am PDTReport Abuse

>The hunter, who is from Massachusetts and received help from her husband and a guide,
>meat to store for food.... don't want goes straight to shelter's so homeless/poor
>And she isn't a dumb redneck
> I hunt because I want these creatures to be here forever
> was sought after, after several complaints from neighbors of the beast roaming near by

yup, she was sought after, like police seek psychics to solve a crime -
typical redneck knuckle dragging right winger responses
regurgitating the ignorance & bigotry they hear on limbaugh, beck and hannity.
.we saw their type on "Deliverance"
""we give the meat to the poor"" - phony hypocrites - that is right, the poor need to feed on the meat of this animal to keep from starving..rednecks are ignorant and disgusting.

Reply by molinyc September 23, 2010 11:34am PDTReport Abuse

>in addition, she did take the Gator meat to store for food
>you tree huggers dont have a clue .. molinyc.. gator skinned .. the meat processed..douchbag

if you kill it eat it !!
to store for food? give it to friends? and when none of your other stuffed redneck friends want anymore alligator meat - give it away to homeless shelters - but most likely throw it out as spoiled - what humanitarians!!! - yup, need to store it - too lazy to bring your fat a$$es over to walmart and shop -

>>And she isn't a dumb redneck white trash piece of crap woman either
sure sounds like she and her stupid husband are....teabaggers

Reply by dare0077 September 23, 2010 12:02pm PDTReport Abuse

Moli,

Breathe woman! This isn't a political arguement. If you don't like the law, then do something to change it. But, at the very least, get your facts straight. More importantly, take some responsibility and stop blaming other people for the missery you've created in your own life.

As a matter of fact, I suggest that you go to the Everglades in S Florida and jump in a lake and do the backstroker with your Alligator friends. I promise they wont do a thing.

On second thougt, In case your IQ is below 100, this is a joke. Do NOT jump in a lake full of Alligators, they will eat you and you'll end up just being another pile of Gator shit sitting in the Everglades.

Reply by molinyc September 23, 2010 04:09pm PDTReport Abuse

>>Breathe woman! This isn't a political arguement.

actually billy-bob, you're wrong on both counts.
it is not only political but cultural at it's core.
Neanderthals vs. the rest of us
heew haaw
as to the rest of your rant - it is not worth responding to
bye
end of thread -

Reply by dare0077 September 23, 2010 05:06pm PDTReport Abuse

Absoultely not. Just because you believe something strongly, doesn't mean that the it has any basis in reality. Your dillusions should be somewhat supported by facts. And they clearly are not.

The only thing clear to me, is that you're fighting a cultural war not with everyone else around you and humanity, but with yourself. Maybe, you hate what you see everyday when you look in the mirror. But, that's your problem -not societies. So, get a life and stop hating on everyone.

Reply by devildareme September 24, 2010 05:57am PDTReport Abuse

hailey, killing 1 alligator does not constitute "kill everything around you that doesn't appeal to you" and i'm fairly certain that you have no idea whether or not this woman was "getting pleasure out of watching its pray slowly die in agony the way some disgusting people do" do not speak on that which you do not know. from the mouths of fools comes ignorance.

Reply by stmag September 24, 2010 04:01pm PDTReport Abuse

wow, I can't understand the ignorance of some people and how they feel against hunters! Have these tree huggers that shop at safeway, walmart or any other store to purchase that prepackaged meat, ever spent time in a slaughter house? You want to see torture? Then I dare you to make rash statements against hunters. 90% of everthing that I have ever hunted died without pain or torture. While just the opposite happens at the slaughter houses.

Reply by yoda0311 January 20, 2012 11:22am PSTReport Abuse

Good for you!! That thing can harm innocent people and children with ease. Its the opposite of all those imbred morons hunting giraffes in Africa. Those giraffes are minding their own business and aren't going to do anything to you. You go all the way over there to TRY and prove your manhood...or lack thereof!? Good job, you had a gun you idiot! You are so tough!! You have the smallest balls on the planet! How do you feel about that Douche McShrivelnuts???

Posted by donald lee September 21, 2010 05:41pm PDTReply | Report Abuse

if i had a license to kill a gator and that was the one that i found, id kill it.. you people want to wine about this fucking thing being killed but if the roles were reversed and this creature came after your child or grandchild,you would not think twice of having this thing killed.you fucking people need to quit bitching before you think about what you would do if you were the hunted and not the hunter.

Reply by suesmith September 21, 2010 06:33pm PDTReport Abuse

You've got it completely backwards. The animal was in its own habitat, minding its own business. Then there was the equivalent of a home invasion and the animal was held captive and tortured to death, for fun, just like many psychotic killers do in the homes of humans. He threatened no one's grandchildren. She deserves the same treatment.

Reply by jjpwat86 September 22, 2010 02:10am PDTReport Abuse

i find it ironic that the people defending the alligator keep saying she deserves to die instead. who's the real pychopath there? if you think that a human should die instead of an animal, GO LIVE IN A TREE AND STAY AWAY FROM SANE PEOPLE. and people who have never seen a gator up close or live somewhere that doesnt have a gator population KEEP YOUR MOUTHS SHUT. Gators are passive creatures but do get aggressive if provoked or hungry, usually due to overpopulation and relocation is not the answer. all you doing is putting them somewhere else for them to overpopulate. gators are very territorial and once the place you relocate them to gets too crowded, they spread back out, WASTING OUR TIME AND TAXDOLLARS. if someone wants to hunt them, let them. who are you to take away a practice that people have been doing since the dawn of time? yes it sucks that such magnificent animal died but that gator wouldnt have thought twice about making you his next meal if he was hungry enough. ive seen pictures of people cutting a golfer out of an alligators stomach. and heres a fun fact for you, once a gator has you in a death roll and drowns you, he'll drag you to the bottom and set something heavy on you. then he'll leave you there until you start decomposing so your flesh is soft enough for him to easily devour you.so if the tables were turned. that gator would make you suffer just as much as he suffered but again, that only happens if a gator is starving and has no other natural food supply. usually due to OVERPOPULATION. hunting is a real solution to a real problem . ALL YOU WHINEY TREE HUGGERS KNOW YOUR FACTS BEFORE POSTING, AND QUIT SMELLING YOUR OWN FARTS CAUSE YOU THINK YOUR SHIT DOESNT STINK. death is a part of life, get used to it.

Reply by dans777 September 23, 2010 07:31am PDTReport Abuse

To "jjpwat86"...nicely said!! Do any of you know this woman and/or her intentions? Well, my family and hers happen to be very close and I know for a fact that they don't hunt any animal(s) just for the sport of it!!! They're very involved with the conservation of animals and the ecosystems with which they live!!! Their family nor mine will EVER hunt anything that either they will not consume OR that they will not give to a shelter/organization that feeds the less fortunate!!! So before you go chastizing someone for doing what people have done since, well forever, you need to step back and say to yourself that you don't know them and you don't know their situation or their intentions!!! SO GET OVER IT!!!!!! THEY'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG, IT'S HUNTING SEASON!!!!!! And to "suesmith"...with all do respect, that gator has been on this planet for up to 75 years, so how in the world do you know that he hasn't threatened or even devoured anyone or anyone's "grandchildren"?!?! Plus, last time I checked, it was done DURING HUNTING SEASON!! Hunting Season is a brief period of the year where people who are licensed to hunt a particular animal(s) can do so LEGALLY, in order to maintain a healthy ecosystem/habitat for these animals (as well as people) to LIVE in!!! So once again, GET OVER IT!!!!!!

Reply by suesmith September 24, 2010 06:19pm PDTReport Abuse

jjpwat86 - You're an excellent spokesperson for the people that believe in torturing animals. You're ignorant, illiterate, uneducated, insensitive, stupid and an asshole. Way to back up your peeps, dummy. Keep talking. Each piece of asinine lunacy that drips from your idiotic mouth brings another person to the cause of animal rights.

Reply by brandon maverick pickens September 26, 2010 01:57am PDTReport Abuse

from an indifferent point of view, 'jjpwat86' stung together facts and logic that make me want to lean toward him, but 'suesmith' just kinda had rant reminiscent of a 5 year old with an impressive vernacular having a temper tantrum. If there's a half-ton beast creeping the surrounding neighborhoods you kill it, or it kills you. I've never understood why tree-huggers of all people would expect someone to follow a basic natural instinct, which in this case is kill or be killed

Posted by thuc nguyen September 21, 2010 05:41pm PDTReply | Report Abuse

people are just mad because they are not the one who captured him(the gator).. yes it sounds cruel but the only way to kill a gator is a small area the size of a dime in the back of the head.. if you don't shoot it there, you will be on the end on that rope....but the knife jab was a little much...lol you wanna kill it not put it in a wheel chair for the rest of it's life...lol

Posted by angeleta September 21, 2010 05:42pm PDTReply | Report Abuse

These people make a living on hunting them. You ever watch swamp people, these people keep the count down. I am glade she killed that big thing. Let me ask you this what if someone you love gotten killed by these things, what would you say or do then. I think you would be singing a different tone. Did you see how big that thing is I am glade she killed it and I don't care how she did it.

Reply by suesmith September 24, 2010 06:22pm PDTReport Abuse

How many people are killed by drunk drivers, domestic violence, gun violence, even medical errors compared to the number killed by "gators"? Use some common sense.

Reply by matt robinson September 28, 2010 12:41pm PDTReport Abuse

Suesmith,
I am wondering about one small thing. Do you support abortion?
From reading your previous posts I get that sense that you support equal rights for animals and feel that no organism should suffer or be killed for any reason. So I hope you would extend the same rights to an unborn baby as you would to that "poor" alligator.

Posted by jutto97 September 21, 2010 05:42pm PDTReply | Report Abuse

I like how Joey has nothing better to do than to comment on everyones post. Way to use the "if i keep talking eventually people will think I am right" method. Hunting season exists for a reason in every state for several species. As long as she did it with-in the laws of that state I don't see a problem. Too many of you on here have your stupid opinions and want to make everyone believe what you believe like the christians...STFU. No one cares what you think. You're an idiot!! Take care of your family, raise your kids to believe what you think is right and just worry about yourselves. What everyone else does is really none of your business and if you think it is you're f-ing retarded.

Reply by highway johnny September 21, 2010 05:47pm PDTReport Abuse

UH? And what makes you think people care what you think? I mean you wouldn't write a post like that unless you wanted peoples attention.
So don't throw stones when you live in a glass house.

Posted by gamer2456 September 21, 2010 05:43pm PDTReply | Report Abuse

I don't see problem with hunting but to kill animal is this way it outrages she could done more less crulety to this animal. Let give someone the chance hunt her that way and see how crulety of death she would have and painful one at that.

This just plain sick and she would be lock up for animal crulety and pay large amount money for what she did .

Posted by highway johnny September 21, 2010 05:43pm PDTReply | Report Abuse

looserooster needs to go back to school and learn about alligators. When I was kid. I used to swim in the Swanee river in Fla with alligators 50 to 100 feet away. And I'm still here and so are the others I swam with. Alligators become aggressive when there is lack of food or they are being messed with or your to close to their nest. As long as you avoid those three things. Gators will ignore you and prefer not to be bothered. And that cocka-mammy line , "I hunt so they will be here forever. Hog-mosh. Leave them the hell alone and they will be around forever. And if you have to kill an alligator out of self defense. Kill it quick like you want someone to do to you. If your killing to control population. Then hey just start killing people. There's 10 time more people than alligators. And a kid could kill an alligator that way. Try it with your bare hands. Then you should be talked about in the papers. And alligators have been around longer than man. So I don't think we have to worry about the younger ones. They don't eat each other. Do you realize how long it took that gator to get that big. Years and years and years. And it really isn't that much above the normal size. You go to zoos and you see gators that big. One gator that size, isn't going to wipe out a reptile that has been around since the dinosaurs. And it's gods job to balance the ecosystem not ours. Ours seems to be to screw it up. We do a great job of that.
Yes gators have attacked. Most likely because the rivers are polluted and there aren't as many fish as 50 yrs ago. There not like crocodiles. Those are vicious meat eaters. And attack without cause. Hell they'll tip you boat over if they can. Leave the gators alone and they'll leave you alone. Just like bees, or snake or badgers,or boar.

Reply by chrisbdba September 21, 2010 06:24pm PDTReport Abuse

You have never been near an alligator idiot! I can tell by the BS you are spewing.Go for it you first!

Reply by bmaas13 September 21, 2010 06:27pm PDTReport Abuse