how many alligators are harvested in florida each year
The . Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Farris Bryant Building A Florida alligator trapping license or harvest permit costs $272, while two hide validation CITES tags for non-residents cost $22. 36 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2015 Florida Black Bear Hunt Summary Report; David Shiffman, 298 Bears Killed in Florida Hunt that Ignored Science, Washington Post, Oct. 29, 2015, available at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/10/29/298-bears-killed-in-florida-hunt-that-ignored-science/?utm_term=.42cf5cfab9a9. But the proposal approved last month by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission means ranchers wont have to return as many to the wild, so they will have more to sell. The Statewide Alligator Harvest Program enables the harvest of non- hatchling alligators, those greater than 18-inches, on specific public waters or within specific counties. Of nonvenomous animal fatalities, a majority (approximately 72 per year) resulted from interactions with mammals or dogs (Forrester et al. Permits are assigned in each unit or county based on a calendar year. Fish and Wildlife Service, Species Profile for American Alligator, http://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=C000. Though you may skin and consume your own alligator, if the skin, carcass, or meat is to be sold; only permitted alligator processing facilities must be used to process the animal. 2015). The harvest program establishes a series of Harvest Management Units which have specific boundaries and times which the permit holder can hunt by. This same scenario rings true not just in south Florida, but all across the state. For alligators that are 3 feet long, the percentage is higher. As a result, the lake elevation is slightlyless than 12 feet 6 inches instead of theaverage of nearly 14 feet for mid-August. People enjoy the excitement of the hunt as well as the excitement of seeing an alligator in the wild. The average male alligator size is approximately 11 feet and the. For the upcoming 2015 season there are 4,827 permits issued. Alligator hunting is only allowed in certain areas of the state, and you can only hunt during specific times of the year. So what is the explanation given by experts? Louisiana and Florida have the largest alligator populationsthere are more than one million wild alligators in each state. Interest in alligators as a source of meat and leather dates back to the early 19th century. There is a $272 fee for residents of Florida, $22 for residents with disabilities, and $1,022 for non-residents, who must pay the full amount. tags will not be replaced unless they have been reported as stolen or lost. As expected, and in an effort to manage the total numbers taken, alligator hunting permits carry with them many restrictions. Whereas, the American crocodile is brown/tan in color with dark splotches on the sides and tail; it has a narrow snout; and the fourth tooth of its lower jaw projects outside the upper jaw. Alligator harvest permits will be required for the following dates: On the FWC website, there are numerous helpful tools for making these decisions. Alligators range from central Texas eastward to North Carolina. 38 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2016 Guide to Alligator Hunting in Florida. Troy and Jacob Landry, who hunt gators, have made their mark as celebrities. A safari jeep full of tourists were observing two fighting rhinos when the animals suddenly turned their attention on the jeep and charged. That might not be the case at other sites, whererecent heavy rains have swelled creeks, canals, swamps and smaller lakes, giving gators more places to roam. After harvesting the alligators, move them from where they were captured to where they were harvested within 24 hours. Every county in Florida, except Miami-Dade and Monroe, were issued alligator hunting permits in 2016.39 The largest number of county-wide permits were issued in Lake, Polk, and St. Johns counties situated in the central and northeast area of Florida.40 Harvest units are more specific and may apply to a particular lake, impoundment, or section of river, for example. Couple from Discovery TV show hunt gators in Florida, Lake O's lower level debated by stakeholders, Nuisance alligator found in Indian River Lagoon at Sewall's Point, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Association, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The State of Louisiana administers an alligator program in which ranchers collect over 350,000 alligator eggs, trappers harvest over 30,000 wild alligators and farmers harvest over 250,000 farm raised alligators annually. Conservationists win because alligators' habitat and the gators themselves are being protected and increased. "The prices are about 30 percent down from last year," Greenwood Gator Farms and Tours owner Tim Domangue said. The heaviest gator harvested in Florida was a1,043 pounder measuring13 feet 10.5inches takenApril 17, 1989, in Orange County through the nuisance alligator program. Its really amazing when contrasted with the growth rate of an 11-foot, 1-inch alligator harvested by hunter Cory Stewart at the end of August. All rights reserved. Customers who have a valid FWC Resident Disability License are exempt from the purchase of an Alligator Trapping Agent License. 169 0 obj <> endobj Since at least 1962, WRD has used scientifically valid, survey methodology to get estimates of not only deer harvest, but also harvest estimates of other game species. It is a free-for-all. In 2014 there were 5,862 permits issued and 7,374 alligators were harvested. The Commission offers a limited number of permits through a random drawing process. For example, in 1967 after consultation with the states and scientists, the U.S. The current state record alligator length is 14 feet 3.5 inches taken from Lake Washington in Brevard County. The ubiquitous nature of alligators in Florida might make it difficult for Florida residents, whether landowners, invitees, or trespassers to claim they were not aware of the potential presence of alligators in lakes, ponds, and rivers. There are many alligators in Florida, but in Louisiana, the most common are in coastal marshes, and they live in freshwater rivers, lakes, and swamps. Alligator hatchlings lounge in a viewing pool Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, at the Insta-Gator Ranch and Hatchery near Covington. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimates the state is home to about 1.3 million of the freshwater reptiles. Louisiana alligator hunting regulations state that lottery hunters can only be assigned six lines for each of the three alligator tags they are issued. The species, along with many others, was a casualty of habitat loss and hydrologic alterations beginning in the late 1800s and early 1900s as much of Floridas wetlands and swamps were drained for flood control, navigation, and agriculture and to make way for roads, housing, and future development. Alligator hunting is typically a nighttime activity;legal huntinghours statewide are 5 p.m. to10 a.m. That hunting took a big bite out of the wild gator population, and by 1962 hunting was outlawed. Habitat preferences and several physical characteristics distinguish the American alligator from the American crocodile. Hunting alligator on private land, whether owned or under a hunting permit, or on public lands/lakes with access granted through a lottery or bidding process is permitted. These conditions are compelling alligators to relocate in search of more suitable areas.16, Therefore, not surprisingly, with Floridas alligator population around 1.2 million, more of them on the move, and the human population approaching an all-time high of 20 million people,17 encounters with these prehistoric creatures are inevitable. 37 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Alligator Management Program, http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/. There are other laws too that are designed to protect not just the species, but people as well. It is a popular hunting sport in Louisiana and Florida. This program is a model for other states and countries to properly manage and conserve important animal species. A hunter must have his or her license and one or more current alligator harvesting tags in addition to his or her license. When you think of Florida, images of sandy beaches, orange groves dotted with fragrant white blossoms, or the many cypress swamps and wetlands might come to mind. The Florida alligator hunting laws are quite simple. The Florida record for weight is a 1,043 pound (13 feet 10.5inch long) alligator taken from Orange Lake in Alachua County. The Private Lands Alligator Management Program allows the harvest of non-hatchling alligators on private landholdings and government owned 3 or leased land with a documented, harvestable alligator population. All indications are that the program is working, Elsey said. 32 See Keith Wood, Gator Hunting in the Sunshine State, NRA American Hunter (June 11, 2012), available at https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2012/6/11/gator-hunting-in-the-sunshine-state/. Contrary to popular belief, bang sticks are the only firearm allowed for alligator hunting; no hand guns or rifles are allowed.45 But, of course, these methods are not without some controversy themselves, as some aspects have been denounced by critics as cruel.46, After harvesting, the permittee must attach a CITES tag within six inches from the tip of the tail. Larger calibers have a higher energy expended rate, but this also increases the chances of projectiles tearing up something. If you think you can harvest an alligator like they do in the TV Reality Series Swamp People, then think again. A Quota Alligator Harvest Permit (or free permit if applicable) and a Harvest Record are required for hunters to hunt alligator. Another important protection involves the duty of an owner or occupant to warn others regarding the presence or potential of a dangerous condition, such as wild animals. In addition, the states hunting program allows about 40,000 wild alligators to be harvested each year. The hunters caught the 12-foot, 1-inch alligator in Forest Home Chute off the Mississippi River south of Eagle Lake last week and turned in the tag, as reported this week by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. When it comes to alligators in Louisiana, you must have a hunting license. In that first year, officials counted just 8,600 nests. Alligator hunting is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and permits can be obtained through their website. The extent of this duty will depend on several factors, such as the status of the victim, knowledge of the owner, and knowledge of the victim. In 2011, 8,103 gators were taken, well up above the number just a . The longest alligator killed in Florida was a14-foot, 3.5-inch monsterweighing 654 pounds hunted Nov. 1, 2010, by Robert "Tres" Ammerman atLake Washington in Brevard County. In addition to the number of chances and percentage of applicants selected, the department has posted a map with a list of the 48 areas. Because of its lightweight frame and lack of power, the 22 rimfire is a popular hunting rifle. If you want to catch gator trout consistently, youve got to target them. Clanton's theory why: Water levels in many of the state's waterways have been low for many years, allowing more large alligators to be harvested. Human development is often pitted against nature while simultaneously wrestling with social and economic implications. Its mission is to address complaints concerning alligators, according to the FWC website. 44 There are Don'tshine the light in its eyes the entire time, but rather wave your light on and off its eyes. 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how many alligators are harvested in florida each year