Schusser, however, said he goes out of his way expending extra time and resources to capture alligators alive. The FWC said trying to relocate alligators that big is tough because zoos and farms typically do not have much space for them. Schusser roped the gator, which had lingered after the attack, and loaded it into his trailer. The FWC and Brevard County fire officials did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. With alligator mating season upon us, you can expect to see these beasts a lot more. Stay inside obviously, he said. 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. A very Florida job: FWC hiring alligator trapper - WKMG Ellis has a warning for people who may encounter alligators that way. But it was killed. Florida alligator All alligator trapping agents must purchase an alligator trapping agent license (ATA) annually at a cost of $50. Also available for privately contracted work (other nuisance wildlife) and wildlife education programs. The goal of SNAP is to proactively address alligator threats in developed areas, while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur.. That head is about 15 pounds of calcium said Captain Phil Walters as he showed off the six-foot gator in his truck. Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Walking Club 101: Hiking during alligator mating season. WebClick here for tips on recognizing and dealing with orphaned or distressed wildlife. It wasnt injured. Alligator The Florida If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. Privately Licensed as a nuisance trapper, Ray also responds to calls for other wildlife situations. [TRENDING: Fla. works to stop catastrophic pond collapse | Naval mine washes ashore in Fla. | Surfs up: Dogs ride the waves]. Trappers say the gators will be taken to an alligator farm elsewhere in the state. He then pulled it to shore and tied it up. His condition remains unclear. A family in Florida found a nearly 9-foot alligator with missing limbs on their doorstep. In April, officials warned motorists of aggressive alligators during mating season. News4JAX reporter Aaron Farrar joins us to show us more about Florida's most iconic reptiles. And that's really not the case," Paner said. Trappers must have email and cell phone capability. According to the states FWC website, the initiative is part of its Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program, otherwise known as SNAP, that contracts with private individuals to lawfully respond to and remove specific nuisance alligators.. Learn More. Published Last June, a video of a nuisance alligator trapper being headbutted by the animal just outside of Orlando went viral. "Officer Roberts (aka Officer Justice) sprung into action and safely relocated the tiny gator to a body of water where it can safely continue its swimming and sunbathing," the police department said in its post. Once an alligator is trapped, it Trapper Thomas Schusser sits atop an alligator he helped pull from a lake in Clearwater after it bit a man trying to retrieve a golfing disc. The day's top local, national and international stories plus breaking news, weather and sports brought to you by the News4JAX team. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is hiring a contracted nuisance alligator trapper for Sarasota County. And Walters said its typical for trappers to catch only about a third of the alligators they receive complaints about. Florida Alligators usually only become a nuisance if they're fed by humans, Paner said. Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing. The rest, he said, like him, do it just because they enjoy it and want to help. Alligator If a person has a concern about a nuisance alligator, there is a toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline available at: 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-42986). In the late 1980s, alligators were taken off Floridas list of legally protected species. And even though the state's nuisance animal program website explicitly states that trapped alligators are harvested, people don't always understand that. 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 platform is designed to engage citizens and government leaders in a discussion about what needs improvement across the country. Trappers like Ellis are the only people allowed to handle the That's the surprise one Florida man came across in his Tampa driveway. Once a trapper is called, they have up to 45 days to snag the gators before the permit expires. She wishes the state would invest in more education about alligators. Alligators are valuable for their skin and their meat. Trappers must project a positive image to the public and media.