Louisiana Alligator Management Program
Introduction
Alligators were once endangered, but are no longer. The State of Louisiana has increased its wild alligator population from less than 100,000 to over 1.5 million in the past 30 years. Initially all harvest of alligators was stopped, allowing the wild population to stabilize. Then years of telemetry studies were conducted to determine nesting chronology and habitat requirements. State officials realized that saving a species is directly related to saving the habitat. Since 80% of the wetlands in Louisiana are privately owned, the economic incentive of a successful alligator program is a vital aspect of such a program. Alligator hunting has a very long history in our state.
A controlled wild harvest has been carried out since 1972. This harvest program was slowly expanded from the southwestern parishes to a statewide program. After ten years with a closed season, this reviewed annual harvest created a strong economic incentive for landowners to maintain or enhance wetland habitat. This incentive was also received by hunters and the rural communities in general. The wild harvest has grown from 1,200 to over 32,000.
During the 1980s an alligator ranching program was developed. An alligator egg collection program was initiated in 1986. Here’s how it works. Landowners sell alligator eggs to farmers every summer. At around $9/egg, they now have an additional incentive to keep the wetlands wet and wild. Provided with ideal conditions, these farm-raised alligators grow to four feet in twelve to eighteen months, as opposed to 3 to 4 years in the wild. Due primarily to predation, only about 10-20% of wild alligators ever reach this 4-foot size, but those that do, have an excellent chance to survive to adult size. To insure a stable, increasing wild population, the farmers take 14% of their 4-foot plus alligators and, using airboats, return them to the wild. The wild population is very carefully controlled.
The state economic impact from both consumptive (i.e. meat and hides) and non-consumptive (i.e. swamp tours) alligator use is estimated at 54 million per year. The wild season is set in September, when breeding females are hidden away with their nests. So primarily males and non-breeding females are hunted. No other species in the world is culled to the specificity of alligators. A CITES (Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species) tag is required for all harvested alligators. The tags are issued based on the population count. Furthermore, information such as section, range, township, hunter or farmer, inspector, and shipper are recorded for every alligator harvested in compliance with international rules for crocodilian management.
1. Alligator Populations
Louisiana has more alligators today than in the days of our grandfathers. Populations are increasing steadily. Nests counts have increased from 6,700 in 1971 to 37,700 in 2001. Wild populations are estimated to be just over 1.5 million. There are also over 500,000 alligators on ranches in Louisiana .
2. The Harvest Quota Setting Process
The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries conducts a nest survey each year to determine alligator nest densities in various regions. Nest densities, which provide an index of alligator populations, are charted according to habitat type, latitude and longitude.
Each year after the nest density estimate is obtained, an allowable take (quota) is calculated environmentally. Nest densities fluctuate depending on conditions, during droughts they can decline, or they can increase dramatically during good seasons. The State will then issue individually and sequentially numbered plastic lockable tags. These tags are designed to ensure that once properly applied any tampering with them will be perfectly obvious.
Each alligator taken by licensed harvesters must have such a tag fixed to it and the state keeps track of such details as the exact numbers of tags used, where the tags were used, what length of animal they were attached to and which of these animals had been released from ranches in prior years. The State monitors the release and use of tags to ensure the harvest in any one area does not exceed the quota.
3. Licensing Controls over Alligator Harvesters
Alligator hunters and farmers must obtain state licenses. Hunters are issued a license and a number of tags based on the property that he has permission to hunt on. Each property receives a tag allotment based on the habitat quality and quantity. Farmers must show compliance of minimum facilities during a required facility examination by Department personnel prior to license.
4. Monitoring of the System
Farms are regularly inspected by state personnel to check housing and water conditions. The state looks specifically at or for sanitary conditions, temperature control, feeding, and overcrowding.
State personnel inspects and tracks the size and number of hides from alligator harvests. A data-base is kept with such information as who hunted or farmed and who shipped which hides to whom, when.
Egg collections are equally monitored. A three party contract is made between the landowner, the rancher collecting eggs and the state. The State determines how many eggs are available for pick-up on a certain piece of property. The rancher must report to the State how many eggs were collected and how many hatched. The farmer then has two years to return 14% of those healthy alligators at 4 foot length. The State monitors the returns to insure healthy alligators.
5. Environmental Impacts of Utilizing Alligators
The economic incentive gained by landowners, hunters, trappers, ranchers and the community at large insures a positive environmental impact through alligator utilization. Poaching is next to zero today. People protect what has value to them and the alligator is fiercely protected in Louisiana today. Since the alligator is valued, its habitat, the wetlands, is also valued. Landowners spend money to protect their property from seawater encroaching on the coast. Louisiana is losing coastal wetlands at an alarming rate due to many climatic factors. There is incentive to slow and reverse this process to protect the renewable resources in the marshes. By protecting the marshes, many other species of bird, fish, mammals, etc. are also spared.
The Alligator Management Plans have been operating under strict and intensive supervision for over 30 years. In many respects we know the actual environmental impact of utilizing alligators. Intensive use and scientific effort have answered the questions of potential impact and enabled industry to defend itself based on demonstrated science.
6. Animal Welfare
Conditions on the farms are closely monitored by the State of Louisiana to insure humane housing and treatment. Regulations are in place guiding the wild hunts as well. For example alligator lines must be checked daily and pole hunting is prohibited.
7. Conclusion
The alligator industry believes it is a model of wise environmental management and this belief is supported by the analysis of extensive scientific data and the support of a wide range of professional scientific bodies. Further the industry believes that utilizing this renewable natural resource to maintain Louisiana’s cultural heritage is an endeavor filled with wisdom.
8. Quotable Quotes
Although it seems counter-intuitive, "buy a gator- save a gator" actually works.
The economic incentive generated by the alligator industry helps keep the wetlands wet and wild.
The alligator industry is legal, sustainable, and scientifically verifiable.