LAFITTE, La. (AP) — Gasps can be heard by tourists on a swamp boat tour in south Louisiana as their guide jumps in the water to feed chicken and marshmallows to two alligators.
At one point the guide puts a marshmallow in his mouth and lets one of the gators snatch it. The scene was captured on video by Stacy Hicks of St. Helens, Oregon. Hicks says she's surprised by the attention the video has received — it's been shared more than 100,000 times on Facebook. It's also attracted attention of local and state wildlife officials, who are reviewing the video.
There is no state law prohibiting luring and feeding of alligators, but it's against local law in Jefferson Parish. The tour company won't comment and so far no charges have been filed.