Source: BroBible
Summary
A Georgia man, Zach, gained attention on TikTok for his relationship with an alligator named Priscilla. The video shows him calling the gator to a pond, where she appears. According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, there are about 200,000 alligators in the state. While alligators are considered game species, hunting is restricted to specific seasons. The article notes that alligator attacks on humans are rare and usually result from human provocation.
Our Reading
The habit gets a new name.
Zach calls his gator Priscilla. She has one eye. He fishes. She shows up. No one questions it. People comment about keeping gators in Georgia. Some say they’re smart. Others say they’re cute. No one mentions the 200,000 alligators in the state. The trend is clear: nature is just a pet waiting to be named.
Original observation: A gator with one eye is a pet. A gator with two eyes is a threat. The difference is a name.
Author: Evan Null
‘Keep That One-Eyed Priscilla In Georgia’
Some commenters were cautious. “Sir, y’all keep that one-eyed Priscilla in Georgia,” one said. “My 1.5 acre pond, here in Southeast Oklahoma has enough questionable things swimming in it.” “Some times I think Kansas is boring but I’m pretty glad we don’t have gators here,” a second admitted. Others shared their own stories, with a third saying: “Alligators get a bad rap. I grew up fishing family gravel pits. Gators were everywhere and we had a 5 footer that turned into a friend. It was cool as hell.” Elsewhere, commenters were excited by the set-up. “I never wanted to be a pond pet so badly,” a fourth admitted. A fifth said, “Cute [heart eyes emoji] she comes when she’s called they are very smart!”
How Many Alligators Are In Georgia?
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, there are approximately 200,000 alligators in Georgia. The Savannah Morning News reports that alligators are considered a “game species,” which means that you are, within reason, legally allowed to hunt them. However, the outlet states that you are only legally permitted to shoot alligators during alligator season. This year, alligator season opened on Aug. 14 and will close on Oct. 5. Georgia Code § 27-3-19 states that, if you break this law, you will get a misdemeanor. This means that you could be fined at least $500 or spend up to one year in prison.
Is It Safe To Stand Near An Alligator-Infested Pond?
While alligators are dangerous carnivores, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources reports that, between 1980 and 2001, there have only been eight reported cases of alligators attacking humans. None of these attacks resulted in death. Six of these attacks happened after the people involved went out of their way to make contact with the gators. In turn, only two of these incidents involved alligators mistaking humans for prey. So while you can stand in or near an alligator-infested pond, it’s probably not the smartest idea. Texas Parks and Wildlife notes that alligators are actually scared of humans. So, if you’re feeling afraid during an encounter, you’re not the only one.
Why Is This Trend So Popular?
The idea of a gator as a pet is not new. But the way it’s being framed—by a man calling her “Priscilla” and treating her like a companion—is. People are drawn to the idea of nature being tamed, even if it’s just a gator with one eye. The trend plays into the same pattern as other lifestyle fads: a strange habit, given a name, and sold as something unique. The real question is, why does this feel like a breakthrough?
The Gator Economy
There’s a whole industry around gators. From hunting to pet ownership, there are rules, seasons, and laws. But when a man calls his gator by name and films it, it becomes a trend. The line between wildlife and pet is blurred. And in the end, it’s just another lifestyle packaged for attention. The real story is not about Priscilla. It’s about how we turn wild things into familiar ones.
