Or they drop into a backyard pool or wander across a golf course and someone reports their concern. Be able to supply any equipment necessary to take alligators (truck, boat, snares, hooks, etc). Have a record of adherence to fish and wildlife regulations and have no criminal history. A nuisance alligator is defined as one that is at least 4 feet in length and believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property. "In most cases, the alligator is processed for its hide and meat, which is the primary source of compensation for their services.". To learn more about becoming a contracted nuisance alligator trapper and to apply online, visit MyFWC.com/Alligator and click on the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program. To put your alligator trapping skills to the test, apply by April 14. Mild-flavored alligator meat is versatile and can be easily substituted in most recipes for chicken, veal or fish. Alligator mating season began in May and will go through June. Ray the Trapper attends schools, news broadcasts and community events with his alligator friends and other wildlife to educate the public about these fascinating animals. The stipend may barely cover gas money for the trappers. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a writer on the breaking news team for Fox News Digital. Alligator trapper A.J. Walters got the permit two days ago from Florida Fish and Wildlife, which contracts trappers to do the dirty work. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. An alligator shows up at a community pond where people walk their dogs. Of that number, 8,036 were killed, according to Wildlife Commission records. In July, a family came across a 9-foot alligator with missing limbs on their doorstep. Julius Whigham II is a According to the job description, trappers typically make house calls to remove gators about 4 feet long found in pools or garages. In the late 1980s, alligators were taken off Floridas list of legally protected species. People with concerns about an alligator should call FWCs toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at The FWC said alligators will usually avoid people unless provoked or needing to defend their nest. A Florida alligator almost had the lunch of a lifetime after he lunged out of a swamp attempting to munch on a bald eagle. Florida's Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program has contracts with 102 trappers across the state. A male alligator will have a territory, and if you go moving another male in there that can cause a problem, Johnson said. All rights reserved. Florida state officials receive approximately 14 to 15,000 alligator complaints per year. Florida alligator nuisance Not interested in trapping gators and would rather report a nuisance alligator? Photo of alligators at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park. Then he hauls them to his truck for a measurement. That is about 57% of all permits. Why are you trying to catch it? Walters remembers the person asking. A short time later, authorities with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Brevard County Sheriff's Office came upon an alligator with a human foot sticking out of its mouth, per WESH's report. Alligator But if it is larger than 4 feet, the trapper can either kill the gator or sell it to an alligator farm, animal exhibit or zoo, Sapp said. "I hate to see the animals destroyed when it's not necessary," Schusser said. Regardless of whether they threatened a person or pet, they are killed for their meat and hide. Photos showed the small gator walking along the sidewalk near some bushes, as well a photo of Officer Roberts releasing the gator near the pond. Florida The FWC emphasizes that income earned from being a nuisance alligator trapper may be insufficient to fully support an individual or family, adding that most trappers have additional sources of income. Heres how to vote. Nuisance alligator trappers are primarily compensated by their marketing and sale of alligator products (hides and meat) from nuisance alligators taken, the FWC said. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? Get notified on your phone in the morning with the latest forecast and news to start your day. Florida Wildlife commission data shows that nearly 80% of alligator complaints result in permits being issued. Alligator at the door: Neighbors in The Villages find big nuisance Relocating alligators can come at a cost to trappers. And even though the state's nuisance animal program website explicitly states that trapped alligators are harvested, people don't always understand that. Any nuisance gator larger than that should be referred to the Florida Wildlife Commission or a certified trapper. It just helps to keep them calm a little bit.. A Florida woman was attacked by a 10-foot alligator while trimming trees. Assume personal liability for health, welfare and safety of themselves and their trapping agents. Walters works in sales. Discovery Company. Some call the number just for seeing an alligator at a lake, according to Elise Bennett, Florida director for the Center for Biological Diversity. "People don't know it's okay to live alongside these animals," Paner said. These situations are urgent calls -- but there are also emergencies. Trappers (and their agents) must be committed to providing exemplary customer service while performing their duties. Frantic 911 Call Released After Alligator Fatally Attacked Florida Woman, 85, Fla. Man Hospitalized After Alligator Bites His Face During Swim Near Tampa, 2 Missing in Lake Near Fla. Legoland After Boating Accident During Couple's Anniversary Celebration, Man Killed in Suspected Alligator Attack While Looking for Frisbees at Florida Park, Police Say, Ohio Police Officer Shoots and Kills a Zebra That Bit Its Owner: 'I Think He Tore My Arm Off', Man Helps Rescue 77-Year-Old Woman Attacked by Alligator at Retirement Community: 'He Saved Her', Elderly Florida Woman Killed by 2 Alligators After Falling into a Pond Near Her Home, Janitor, 72, Gets Trapped in Cell for 3 Days Without Food After Door Shut Behind Her While Cleaning, 10-Ft. Alligator Spotted on a Florida Beach, Florida Man Shares Survival Story After Alligator Rips Off Arm and He Gets Lost in Swamp for 3 Days. . Pexels. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Nuisance Wildlife Trapper | Collier County, Florida | Ray On Wednesday, he was called out to an apartment complex where an alligator was hanging out in a pond. WebClick here for tips on recognizing and dealing with orphaned or distressed wildlife. Nuisance Wildlife Trapper | Collier County, Florida | Ray The video in the media player above shows the moments a couple of trappers from Florida Fish and Wildlifes Nuisance Alligator program take the alligator in. Alligator mating season: Local trapper shares warning about In order to apply, the Florida FWC asks that the applicant: Florida also asks the successful applicant to project a positive image to the public and media, which should be a piece of cake for any recreational alligator hunter, no? Two alligators were trapped and killed by Florida Fish and Wildlife officials after Friday's attack, WKMG-TV and FOX affiliate WSVN reported. Female alligators deposit their eggs in late June or early July. Download our app, California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Florida alligator trappers earn just $30 for each nuisance gator caught, Each year, after 7,000 gators are caught statewide, the money runs out. Nuisance alligator trappers were issued more than 12,000 permits and tags and removed 6,254 nuisance alligators. Trappers may need to have additional employment, In April, officials warned motorists of aggressive alligators during mating season. It wasnt injured. Trappers like Ellis are the only people allowed to handle the alligators and are not randomly seized. If you need to have a nuisance alligator removed click here. Trappers must have the time and flexibility to efficiently respond to permits to remove nuisance alligators. Last June, a video of a nuisance alligator trapper being headbutted by the animal just outside of Orlando went viral. You know youre from Florida when the sight of an alligator swimming in your pool on a Friday morning is what you call a great start to your weekend.. Lightning went from glory to gory in 380 seconds against Maple Leafs, Gov. CNNs Alaa Elassar contributed to this reporting. trapper A licensed trapper was sent to the neighborhood to catch the alligator and FWC officials report two alligators were removed: One 7-feet long and the other 8-feet, 11-inches long. A few weeks ago, Ellis had to wrangle a 10-footer that made itself at home outside someones front door in St. Augustine. People with concerns about an alligator should call FWCs toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). A crowd of around 30 gathered when Walters tried to trap the alligator, he said. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. He was just kind of sitting there as we were walking up, Ellis said. Rest assured, serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, according to the FWC. Contracted trappers receive a $50 stipend per alligator from the FWC. Ellis said it can be a game of patience. [Clearwater Police Department], Pasco man arrested in connection to slaying in Holiday, deputies say, DeSantis may not get all his immigration priorities despite sweeping bill, Devin White wont be traded during NFL draft, coach Todd Bowles says. Also available for privately contracted work (other nuisance wildlife) and wildlife education programs. Generally, an alligator is deemed a nuisance if it is at least 4 feet in length and the caller believes it poses a threat to people, pets or property, FWC said. We just have to be respectful of them and cautious," Peoples told the outlet. Trappers receive just a $30 stipend for each alligator they capture until the state runs out of money for the program, which usually happens in the third or fourth quarter each year. Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing. ), Links related to alligators and alligator programs, http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/nuisance/, FDACS Division of Marketing and Development Alligator Information, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Related: Large alligator saunters through Florida neighborhood | Florida expands alligator hunting hours to 24 hours a day, Alligators have a pretty good compass, Darlington said. According to the latest statistics from FWC, which was last updated in November 2021, there have been 117 reported alligator bites since 2010, four of which were deadly (one each in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019). News4JAX rode along with an alligator trapper A.J. Published Schusser said he is not in the trapping business to make a living. The likelihood of a Florida resident being seriously injured during an unprovoked alligator incident in Florida is roughly only one in 3.1 million, according to FWC. They would need to be re-captured and the FWC says it would be harder to do so a second time. "I'm sure you've seen some of the shows, where people leave a rancid piece of chicken, (the alligator) swallows it because they can't chew, it hooks in their guts and most of the time it kills them.". Well deliver the latest news and information you need to know every weekday morning. The Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) has been established to address complaints concerning specific alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets, or property. Once a trapper is called, they have up to 45 days to snag the gators before the permit expires. Schusser might spend $100 on fuel driving to and from the location where an alligator has been reported. Trappers also may receive a small expense reimbursement from the FWC for each alligator taken.. A licensed trapper was sent to the neighborhood to catch the alligator and FWC officials report two alligators were removed: One 7-feet long and the other 8-feet, 11-inches long. The goal of SNAP is to proactively address alligator threats in developed areas, while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur.. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report.
