Elvis is dead. Or rather, Elvis the alligator.
Officials believe an alligator reported lost in the Wappapello Lake area about eight months ago was killed Friday after being spotted by visitors to the Lost Creek area.
The Missouri Department of Conservation released a statement Wednesday confirming the alligator was shot over the holiday weekend.
While it’s impossible to say for sure, the alligator that was killed Friday was the approximate size of the alligator reported missing in September, said Jacob Plunkett, a conservation agent for the Missouri Department of Conservation in Wayne County.
“We did want to let everybody know it’s no longer out there,” he said. “We’ve been getting numerous calls.”
Plunkett also clarified that this is a non-native animal, which is not overseen by the Department of Conservation, and for which he does not have any legal oversight.
The previous missing animal report was handled by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department. Messages left Tuesday and Wednesday with the sheriff’s department had not been returned as of press time.
This weekend’s sighting was the most recent, but Plunkett said an alligator had also been reported in the Lost Creek area about a month ago, so officials were aware of it.
A fisherman reported seeing the animal sitting on a bank, Plunkett said.