Here Is Information On Hunting For Alligators

By Stephanie Davis


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.

The US named the predator as an endangered species in 1967 and banned any form of exploitation/hunting of the creatures. The protection proved to be effective since the population of the predator in the country began to bounce back in the mid-1970s. The number increased at a tremendous rate that the national government allowed each state to be liable for the management of the population of their own gators.

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 skin and other parts of the gator are the reasons people hunt them. When harvested, the skins can be used to make a wide variety of leather products. Other gators are used as decorations in offices and homes where they are made into taxidermy. It is impossible to differentiate between American alligator skin and those of American crocodile and Chinese alligators.

Alligators inhabit a wide range of locations. In most states in the US, they are found in coastal freshwater marshes, reservoirs, swamps, and major river drainages. They are also commonly found in creek drainages, canals and ditches, lagoons, and farm ponds. Generally, these predators can live in any pool of water that provides them with adequate supply of food items and prey.

In areas that both the predator and humans exist, human-alligator incidences are very common. The predators get used to human routines and become a problem and danger to human life. Most of the time, they attack and kill pets in homes. They may also enter homes and put people at risk, with an encounter being potentially lethal.

To control these occurrences, regulated hunting is permitted. Members of the public are allowed to legally harvest and dispose gators through legally-accepted methods after applying for licenses. Gator hunting occurs across several states each year. The open season typically lasts for 1 to 2 months but may differ from state to another. Federal and state laws regulate this activity strictly.

After hunting the predators, people usually take them to businesses collect and process gators as a specialty. The processing involves skinning the predator and harvesting the most important organs. The skins are very valuable and may be sold for a few thousands. Young predator skin cost less compared to the skin from adult predators. The age of the animal, weight, and size usually determines the cost.




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