Wildlife officials are asking for the public’s help after at least three alligators were shot at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge in recent months, prompting a criminal investigation and a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to a conviction. According to Texas Game Wardens, th ree alligators were shot between May and July 2026 at the nature preserve on Lake Worth. Two of the alligators were killed, while another survived its injuries. “It’s extremely unfortunate that people would take advantage of doing that to a keystone, protected species on public land,” said Jared Wood, manager of the Nature Center. One of the victims was a young alligator that Wood had tagged as part of a wildlife study. Wood said that animal was later discovered dead with a gunshot wound to the head. Visitors and kayakers alerted refuge staff about that dead alligator, and alerted staff to another one found in the water with signs of possible poaching. “It does appear that someone tried to remove the head because the spine had been forced upward, which is consistent with someone trying to twist and pull the head away from the spine,” Wood said. Wood and his team fished the carcasses out and reported it to law enforcement. The third alligator was a nesting female that lives on the Nature Center’s grounds. Wood said he and his team noticed her injury on a game camera, then went out to snap some more pictures. “She had that crossbow or arrow shaft sticking out of her neck,” Wood said. The surviving alligator was found with what appears to be a fragment of an arrow or crossbow in its body, according to authorities. (Photo courtesy Fort Worth Nature Center Refuge) Illegal Hunting and Poaching Concerns Officials emphasized that hunting is not allowed at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. Even outside the refuge, alligator hunting is tightly regulated in Texas and can only take place during designated seasons. Hunters must also comply with state tagging and reporting requirements and cannot leave carcasses behind. Now, wardens and Lake Worth marshals are increasing patrols as they search for whoever is responsible. “We’re making our patrols more random, so any other alligators that have suspicious injuries that aren’t from natural causes or any people seen snagging,” Texas Game Warden Mariah Hampton said. Snagging is fishing with a weighted line and hook. The hook snags into the head or body of the animal. Wood called the incidents disheartening and said the attacks threaten a native species that plays an important role in the ecosystem. “I understand that there is a fear and in some cases a hatred of alligators, but they’re still protected and they’re still part of the ecosystem and they’re native,” he said. Reward Offered Operation Game Thief is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the conviction of the person or people responsible. Anyone with information can submit an anonymous tip through one of the following methods: Call: 1-800-792-GAME (4263) Text: 847411 with the keyword TXOGT followed by your tip Report online through the Operation Game Thief website Submit information through the Texas OGT mobile app Officials encourage anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge to come forward. ...read more read less