Two Florida men are accused of capturing an alligator from the side of the road, holding it down, and pouring beer down the reptile's throat - while one of the men encouraged it to bite his arm.

Timothy Kepke, 27, and Noah Osborne, 22, allegedly filmed the incident around 10pm on August 26 in Palm City.

In a police report, Kepke claimed Osborne grabbed the animal with his bare hands from the side of the road. Kepke was apparently bitten by the animal on his right forearm before pouring the beer down its throat, but it's not clear how serious the injury was.

It's also not clear how big the alligator was.

Both men were arrested on October 3 after police became aware of a video the pair made of the incident. The video has not been released by police, and it's not clear if it was circulated before their arrests.

They have both been charged with unlawfully taking an alligator.

Two Florida men, Timothy Kepke, 27, and Noah Osborne, 22, were arrested for grabbing an alligator in Florida and forcing beer down its throat

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received a complaint about the incident in August.

Authorities investigating the incident were ultimately able to obtain the video on September 17. They then confronted Kepke about the allegations at his home where he confessed he was involved in the incident, the New York Post reported.

Kepke told officers that Osborne caught the reptile with his bare hands from the side of the road. Kepke then enticed it to bite him and then poured beer into its mouth, causing the alligator to act aggressively, TPPalm.com said.

The pair then released the gator alive, Kepke told officers.

Stock photo of an American Alligator stepping into the water in Florida

Although Kepke admitted to having a couple of beers, he told cops he was not drunk at the time of the incident.

Kepke told officers a female friend was also there when the alleged episode happened.

The woman said she thought the reptile bit Kepke because of his hostility.

Kepke and Osborne were taken to the Martin County Jail with $5,000 and $2,500 bonds, respectively. Both men were released on the same day after posting bail.