"Two-Toed Tom" the Demon Gator of Florida

Two-Toed Tom was a legendary alligator said to haunt the swamps of Florida and Alabama.

The massive beast earned his name after losing two toes on his front left foot to a steel trap, leaving

behind unmistakable tracks in the mud. Known as “The Demon Gator” or “Red-Eye,” Two-Toed Tom became a symbol of the untamable wilderness — a creature embodying the primal fear and mystery of the Southern swamps. Stories described him as a monstrous 14- to 18-foot alligator that preyed upon livestock and, according to local legend, even men and women.

As the tales spread, a hefty bounty was placed on the beast, attracting hunters from across the region. A story tells of a Civil War sharpshooter who spent more than a week hidden in a swamp blind, waiting for a glimpse of the elusive creature.