Pet attacks can also happen. All alligator trapping agents must purchase an alligator trapping agent license (ATA) annually at a cost of $50. 2. The Florida FWCs call for nuisance alligator trappers coincides with recent alligator attacks, including an attack on a Florida woman who was trimming trees, and who suffered major injuries. Florida kills thousands of gators a year. What makes The nuisance alligator becomes the trappers property to sell for hide or meat, or to sell live to a zoo or farm. Why are you trying to catch it? Walters remembers the person asking. On Wednesday, he was called out to an apartment complex where an alligator was hanging out in a pond. But it was killed. Trappers must have email and cell phone capability. Here are some other things to consider if you're interested in applying: If you think you'd be the perfect contracted nuisance alligator trapper for Sarasota County you have until Wednesday, April 14 to complete the Nuisance Alligator Trapper application. Teacher Who Went Missing 2 and a Half Years Ago, Florida Man Attacked by Alligator on His Front Porch: 'Just Got a Step Outside' Before It 'Grabbed Me', 11-Foot Alligator Attacks and Kills Florida Woman, 85, Who Was Walking Her Dog, Florida Alligator Stuck in Pond with Her Mouth Taped Shut Is Rescued and Freed After 2 Months, 'I Can't See Her!' 2023 Cable News Network. After decades of unregulated hunting, protections allowed the alligator population to return to safe levels, Steven Johnson, a wildlife and ecology professor at the University of Florida, said. Thats not every alligator we chase. News4JAX reporter Aaron Farrar got a firsthand look at what goes into catching these savage reptiles. Fearless? Become a FWC nuisance alligator trapper - WFTS Many of the complaints fielded by law enforcement or the Wildlife Commission are far more mundane. When that funding runs out, the trappers get paid nothing. The best states in the country excel in areas such as economy, fiscal stability and opportunity. There are trappers working for FWC -- and they must get a permit from someone who called asking for an alligator to be removed. An FWC officer later recovered the victim's leg and foot from the water, per WESH's report. The females are usually in search of males and they visit these areas.. An alligator shows up at a community pond where people walk their dogs. Today, there are approximately 1.3 million in Florida alone, and residents routinely call nuisance trappers like Vaughan to remove gators from swimming pools, neighborhood lagoons, and pretty much any other body of water they find their Often, people on social media ask why an alligator was killed when, in many cases, it doesnt seem to pose a significant danger. The victim was airlifted to the Holmes Regional Medical Center down in Melbourne for treatment, according to WESH and Florida Today. 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. We all want to live on the water, and roughly any body of water in the state of Florida is likely to have an alligator in it, Tim Geist, an alligator trapper in Hillsborough County, said. That's the surprise one Florida man came across in his Tampa driveway. Schusser might spend $100 on fuel driving to and from the location where an alligator has been reported. Heres how to vote. State finances are in pretty good shape but that could change depending on the trajectory of the national economy. It dispatches them when law enforcement gets a call about an alligator that might pose a threat to people, property or pets. His trip to the apartment complex on Wednesday netted him nothing. Alligator Thousands of 'nuisance alligators' are killed in Florida each year [TRENDING: Fla. works to stop catastrophic pond collapse | Naval mine washes ashore in Fla. | Surfs up: Dogs ride the waves]. Trappers must project a positive image to the public and media. A Florida police officer lassoed an alligator over the weekend amid a Sunday morning stroll. Karina Sura Paner has an alternative way of dealing with the gators she traps. A very Florida job: FWC hiring alligator trapper - WKMG American alligators are not an endangered species. Jim Darlington, a reptile curator at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, said the gators play distinct roles. The FWC said that can cause some problems for people or other alligators if they are successful. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Alligator Alligator Nuisance Wildlife Trapper | Collier County, Florida | Ray The mating season also leads to more alligators winding up in places you would least expect them. His entertaining animal outreach events showcase his deep respect for these creatures and help to promote safety and conservation. Alligator Bites Off Man's Leg at Florida RV Park Attack DeSantis vs. the will of the people | Letters, The $14.8 million next phase in USFs on-campus stadium push, Top 5 at noon: Hurricane Florence brings catastrophic flooding to Carolinas; a desperate place left far behind in Rick Scott's economy; and more. A man was retrieving an errant golfing disc from a lake when he was bitten by an 11-foot alligator. Some call the number just for seeing an alligator at a lake, according to Elise Bennett, Florida director for the Center for Biological Diversity. In a statement, the FWC said a nuisance alligator trapper responded to the scene after the attack, according to Florida Today. If the gator is still alive when the trapper comes back to check, they will euthanize it quickly, he said. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Generally, alligator trapping is a side venture. Floridas Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) is administered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Its no secret that Florida is home to some of the largest populations of American alligators in the United States, often living in close proximity to humans. The Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) has been established to address complaints concerning specific alligators believed to pose a threat to people, He was just kind of sitting there as we were walking up, Ellis 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). Some asked why he was there, saying that the alligator had been living in the pond for some time and had never been an issue. But it takes more energy and money to catch a nuisance alligator alive, and keep it alive, Schusser said. Applicants must pass a criminal history check, have no fish or wildlife law violations and have a working email address. The only way to make significant money as a trapper is by killing the alligator. He said he has worked to find buyers who intend to keep the alligators alive for breeding, at least for a while, rather than hide buyers or meat processors who will immediately kill them. The rest, he said, like him, do it just because they enjoy it and want to help. ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. It is alligator mating season which means you will likely see more of them over the next few months. That head is about 15 pounds of calcium said Captain Phil Walters as he showed off the six-foot gator in his truck. But it was killed. Rest assured, serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, according to the FWC. Being in a position where the American alligator population can easily sustain potentially unnecessary killings is because of successful conservation efforts decades ago, Bennett said. 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. If an alligator has been habituated to people, just because people are always around it, or worse, its been fed which is illegal that alligator then is still going to be habituated to people where you move it to so your just potentially moving a problem from one place to another.. It wasnt injured. They offer guided tours and birthday parties, or show off the beasts at nursing homes and other places. Florida gator trappers risk their lives for $30 a catch You have the opportunity here to hurt yourself or get killed, said Walters. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. SNAP uses qualified nuisance alligator trappers to remove problem alligators. As trappers, were on call24/7, he said. Trappers may need to have additional employment, All Rights Reserved. Ray Simonsen, Sr., aka "Ray the Trapper" is a contracted FWC Nuisance Alligator Trapper, an FWC Crocodile Response Agent, and an FWC Bear Response Contractor. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Florida's Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program has contracts with 102 trappers across the state. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Alligator At times, being an alligator trapper also means being a teacher to the public in Florida. The alligator, which was measured at 7 feet and 10 inches long, was euthanized by a licensed nuisance alligator trapper. CNNs Alaa Elassar contributed to this reporting. Elderly Florida woman dies after encounter with alligator | CNN That is also what makes them hang out at the waters edge closer to people more than you would normally find.. trapper Thousands of Nuisance Alligators Are Killed Each Year. And as the state has seen a recent population boom since 2020, some Floridians worry that alligator newbies are calling the nuisance hotline unnecessarily. Its employees work to address alligator threats in developed areas while conserving alligators in their natural habitats. The FWC will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation. This typically results in the removal of slightly more than half of these alligators. 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. It took him nearly an hour to capture his first target. Florida There have been several instances recently where alligators were seen roaming through neighborhoods. [It happens] all the time, said Walters. Florida You could imagine if he was not tired at that point and had an arm or something in his mouth, it would not be very good, Ellis said while capturing his second alligator on May 5 in St. Johns County. Thousands of 'nuisance alligators' are killed in Florida each year To put your alligator trapping skills to the test, apply by April 14. Once a trapper is called, they have up to 45 days to snag the gators before the permit expires. These states excel in areas such as preschool enrollment, eighth-grade test scores and college degree completion. 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. An 85-year-old woman died Feb. 20 after an alligator grabbed her dog in a St. Lucie County community along Florida's East Coast. Walters got the permit two days ago from Florida Fish and Wildlife, which contracts trappers to do the dirty work. [I have to get the gators] out of the neighborhood so everybody can be safe again and feel comfortable being outside.. Florida If they are driven out of an area or blocked off on a normal route, they want to go from this direction and end up a half-mile over there. But the job can be dangerous. Trappers must assume personal liability for health, welfare and safety of themselves and their trapping agents. Instead, Parker said, trappers can kill them and sell their hides and meat. Alligator He declined to identify the farm where he said he took the Clearwater gator. Female alligators deposit their eggs in late June or early July. 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. It just helps to keep them calm a little bit.. [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. WebIn 2000, the Commission received 14,954 complaints. Last year, alligators were caught on tape climbing fences and swimming on roads across the state. Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. The FWC also provides information about living with alligators because, in Florida, one could be your neighbor. With alligator mating season upon us, you can expect to see these beasts a lot more. It is illegal in the Florida to relocate a 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. The agency said the goal of this role and its nuisance alligator program is to be proactive. Alligator mating season began in May and will go through June. Nuisance alligator trappers are primarily compensated by their marketing and sale of alligator products (hides and meat) from nuisance alligators taken, the FWC said. Wildlife Applicants for the position of nuisance alligator trapper are being solicited by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissions Division of Hunting and Game Management. Florida Gators are part of life here, and, Walters said, sometimes that means trappers serve as psychologists to Floridians learning to live with the states most famous reptile. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Walking Club 101: Hiking during alligator mating season. Trappers like Ellis are the only people allowed to handle the He felt a little pressure and went down., Related: Video: Florida man wrestles alligator under water to save his puppy. Alligators are part of life in Florida. FWC Licensed and Contracted Nuisance Alligator Trapper, Bear Response Contractor and Crocodile Response Agent. 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.. Alligator Johnson believes the tactic of killing alligators has been successful. For assistance with WJXTs or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801. Trappers aren't allowed to relocate the alligator. People with concerns about an alligator should call FWCs toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). Got what it takes? Apply to be an alligator trapper | CNN . According to FWC, there were 309 alligators killed or relocated in St. Johns County in 2018 by FWC contracted nuisance alligator trappers, a big jump when compared to years past. I always try to secure their jaws and their eyes, he said. One of two alligators caught was lurking in a pond near an Elkton construction site and business. 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. Alligators are valuable for their skin and their meat. FWC officials said there are circumstances when alligators can be a threat to people or pets. If this happens, Darlington said do not approach them, do not interact with them, and most importantly, do not feed them. Discovery Company. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. 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? The nuisance alligator website states relocated alligators are likely to return to their capture site and theyre harder to catch a second time. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Trappers (and their agents) must be committed to providing exemplary customer service while performing their duties. The day's top local, national and international stories plus breaking news, weather and sports brought to you by the News4JAX team. News4JAX rode along with an alligator trapper A.J. The 6-foot alligator in a northern Hillsborough County backyard pond hadnt bothered anyone. Walters has caught thousands of them in his three decades as a nuisance gator trapper. Stay inside obviously, he said. Trappers may need to have additional employment, because being a nuisance alligator trapper may not provide sufficient income to support an individual or family. That gator ended up being five feet long. Well deliver the latest news and information you need to know every weekday morning. We just have to be respectful of them and cautious," Peoples told the outlet. 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. Ellis has a warning for people who may encounter alligators that way. Copyright 2023 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a writer on the breaking news team for Fox News Digital. SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. Are you looking for a new job that allows you to help people who feel threatened? Florida Aside from needing to be fearless, since the alligators you'd be trapping would be at least four feet in length, you must live near Sarasota County to be considered. According to the job description, trappers typically make house calls to remove gators about 4 feet long found in pools or garages. A family in Florida found a nearly 9-foot alligator with missing limbs on their doorstep. SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. Its a job posting youd likely only see in Florida. Ask any of the trappers that do this, we love the alligators!. People with concerns about an alligator should call FWCs toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at She said people should know that if there's an alligator out there, there is not necessarily a need to call a trapper. Not interested in trapping gators and would rather report a nuisance alligator? Photos: Florida police officer lassos lost alligator alligator Florida Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. Chris Holwell snapped the encounter and said he and his partner initially noticed a gator, turtle, and vulture hanging on a little island near the boardwalk at Orlando Wetlands Park.