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Trapper Gets Her Gator

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By STEPHEN HAMMILL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 1, 2008

CITRUS PARK - Responding to a complaint from a resident, trapper Julie Harter removed a 6-foot alligator from a man-made pond at the Tuscany Bay apartment complex Saturday evening.

She responded to a call made to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, the agency responsible for removal of unwanted alligators.

The resident's child, playing outside, apparently spotted the alligator along the pond's edge. When an alligator is removed by a trapper, it is killed, with its parts sold for profit.

Gary Morse, spokesman for the commission, said part of the criteria for removal and subsequent destruction requires the alligator "show some aggression toward people, pets or property."

However, at least one resident thinks the alligators at Tuscany Bay are docile.

"They come out and hang out on the bank and swim around for a month," said resident Michael Fuoco.

Asked whether the alligators at the complex seem dangerous, he said, "No, they're not. In fact, when they hear kids or loud noises they usually jump in the water and swim away."

On its Web site, the wildlife commission says, "There is no documented evidence of alligators running after human beings to prey upon them."

Still, Morse stressed they may issue a permit for an alligator that has caused no trouble as long as it is perceived to "cause potential of a threat."

He added that any alligator longer than 4 feet is typically removed and destroyed regardless of its behavior.

The rule is part of the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program, administered by the Division of Hunting and Game Management.

When a call to the hot line is made, the wildlife commission evaluates the complaint and determines whether the alligator should be removed by one of 40 statewide licensed trappers tasked with handling "nuisance alligators."

In 2006, the wildlife commission received more than 21,000 nuisance alligator complaints. In about half of those cases, trappers removed and destroyed the animal.

Once the commission issues a permit to trappers, the alligator's fate is sealed. It typically takes three days after a call to the hot line for a trapper to arrive, Morse said.

The state's Nuisance Alligator hot line is 1-866-FWC-GATOR.

Reporter Stephen Hammill can be reached at (813) 865-1523 or at shammill@tampatrib.com.

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