BREAKING: A South Carolina woman has made headlines after successfully capturing a staggering 12-foot, 597-pound alligator just months after giving birth. Brittany Livingston, now dubbed “Gator Girl,” showcased her incredible feat on social media, thrilling viewers across the state.
The momentous catch occurred in the early hours of September 2025, when Brittany and her husband, Matt Livingston, wrestled with the massive reptile for hours before finally securing it just after 3:00 a.m.. Video footage of their impressive catch, which was loaded into their pickup truck, has gone viral, with many eager onlookers sharing their astonishment.
“We had a lot of eyes on us,” Brittany stated in an interview with Live 5 News. “People were waving, giving thumbs up … even the workers at McDonald’s came outside to see it.” This unexpected fame was further fueled when the couple drove through a local McDonald’s in West Ashley, gator in tow, drawing cheers from bystanders.
For five long years, Brittany applied for an alligator hunting tag through South Carolina’s lottery system, which only allocates 1,400 tags to over 12,000 applicants each season. In 2025, her persistence paid off, as she was selected from Unit 4, which encompasses the Pee Dee region.
“This year, I finally had enough points,” Brittany explained, emphasizing the competitive nature of the lottery system designed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The program aims to manage the alligator population, as highlighted by ex-coordinator Jay Butfiloski, who stated, “The goal is not to eliminate alligators; it’s to allow some harvest, which helps manage the population and reduce nuisance issues.”
Brittany, currently on maternity leave, is now a symbol of resilience and adventure, showing that motherhood can coexist with thrill-seeking pursuits. Her story has ignited conversations about wildlife conservation and the balance between human activities and nature.
As the Livingstons bask in their newfound fame, many are left wondering: what will their next adventure be? The couple’s remarkable story serves as a reminder of the unexpected joys and challenges that life can bring, especially for new parents.
Stay tuned for updates on this captivating story and more developments from South Carolina’s wildlife adventures.
