Mulligan? Golfers consult rule book after ball lands on alligator's back at South Carolina course

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Rule 16 Allows For A Drop

In a safe place, attempting to keep the distance of the subsequent shot the same.
In the "Decisions" book, there is no requirement to find a similar circumstance for the new lie.
IOW, if the original location brought a tree branch potentially into play, one need not find a location creating that situation.
Only similar distance is required.
Except, the new location cannot be chosen to completely take a hazard out of play. (Like dropping on an adjacent fairway and no longer having to hit over a pond.)
Last point: recreational golfers shouldn't need to consult the rule book. Just hit it from somewhere else.
It's common sense to stay away from an alligator, and the alligator wasn't part of the course design.
Just put it somewhere safe & move on. Every round is not the US Open.