That airboat captain, Wallace Weatherholt, who lost his hand feeding a gator, was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor. Rule is feeding gators is illegal, and those who feed an alligator face a second-degree misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $500 and possible jail time. According to a family taking the tour, Weatherholt hung a fish over the side of the boat and had his hand just above the water when the alligator bit his hand off just above the wrist!