The American alligator is a major predator in the swamps of the United States. The predator exists in large number in the southeastern states. At some point in time, the predator had decreased a lot in population due to over-exploitation and a lack of conservation laws and regulations. Today, with conservation laws and regulations in place, the population has risen to very high levels. Here are facts regarding Hunting for alligators.
In 1967, Wildlife Service in the US listed alligators as an endangered species and prohibited any form of hunting or exploitation of the animals. The protection would prove to be very efficient because by the mid-1970s, the populations of the gators in various habitats in the country had rebounded successfully. The numbers were so high that the federal government allowed individual states to take responsibility of managing their own gator populations.
Hunting of gators later begun being legalized in various states as a result of this. However, hunters needed to have licenses and stick to a certain quota during hunting season just to make sure that over-hunting does not occur again. Every hunted gator was to bear the CITES tag. CITES which is an abbreviation for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
The predators are hunted for their skin and other body parts. The skin is used to make a wide variety of leather products. Some predators are turned into taxidermy which are used to decorate homes and offices. The skin and other products of the American alligator are similar to those of the Chinese alligator and the American crocodile, making it impossible to distinguish them.
Alligators occupy a wide variety of places. They are found in reservoirs, swamps, major river drainage and coastal fresh water marshes in various states in the US. Canals, ditches, lagoons, farm ponds, and creek drainage are also other areas they are commonly found. Generally, any pool of water can be inhabited by these predators as long as it can provide a sufficient supply of prey and food items.
In places where alligator populations are very high in residential areas, human-alligator conflict is eminent. The animals get accustomed to human activities and become both a nuisance and a danger to people. They regularly attack and kill pets outside homes. They also infringe into compounds and cause a threat to people. Encounters can be lethal in some cases.
Regulated hunting is allowed to curb such incidences. Members of the general public are required to apply for licenses that allow them to legally harvest and dispose alligators through permitted methods. This activity happens each year across several states. The open season may vary from state to state, but it typically lasts for one to two months. The activity is strictly regulated through federal and state laws.
When people harvest alligators, they take them to businesses that specialize in collecting and processing gators. Processing usually involves skinning and harvesting important parts. The skin is of great value and can be sold for several thousands. Skin from adult gators usually costs more than skin from younger gators. The cost is usually determined based on the age of the animal, its size, and its weight.
In 1967, Wildlife Service in the US listed alligators as an endangered species and prohibited any form of hunting or exploitation of the animals. The protection would prove to be very efficient because by the mid-1970s, the populations of the gators in various habitats in the country had rebounded successfully. The numbers were so high that the federal government allowed individual states to take responsibility of managing their own gator populations.
Hunting of gators later begun being legalized in various states as a result of this. However, hunters needed to have licenses and stick to a certain quota during hunting season just to make sure that over-hunting does not occur again. Every hunted gator was to bear the CITES tag. CITES which is an abbreviation for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
The predators are hunted for their skin and other body parts. The skin is used to make a wide variety of leather products. Some predators are turned into taxidermy which are used to decorate homes and offices. The skin and other products of the American alligator are similar to those of the Chinese alligator and the American crocodile, making it impossible to distinguish them.
Alligators occupy a wide variety of places. They are found in reservoirs, swamps, major river drainage and coastal fresh water marshes in various states in the US. Canals, ditches, lagoons, farm ponds, and creek drainage are also other areas they are commonly found. Generally, any pool of water can be inhabited by these predators as long as it can provide a sufficient supply of prey and food items.
In places where alligator populations are very high in residential areas, human-alligator conflict is eminent. The animals get accustomed to human activities and become both a nuisance and a danger to people. They regularly attack and kill pets outside homes. They also infringe into compounds and cause a threat to people. Encounters can be lethal in some cases.
Regulated hunting is allowed to curb such incidences. Members of the general public are required to apply for licenses that allow them to legally harvest and dispose alligators through permitted methods. This activity happens each year across several states. The open season may vary from state to state, but it typically lasts for one to two months. The activity is strictly regulated through federal and state laws.
When people harvest alligators, they take them to businesses that specialize in collecting and processing gators. Processing usually involves skinning and harvesting important parts. The skin is of great value and can be sold for several thousands. Skin from adult gators usually costs more than skin from younger gators. The cost is usually determined based on the age of the animal, its size, and its weight.
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