Gator Alert Update

Details

01 Jul

Spoke with the alligator trapper yesterday &, as you might imagine, his job is very tricky, even more so due to the animal being in the bayou & not on land! The permit that FL Fish & Wildlife Commission (FWC) issues is only for his capture of the gator on the property of the person who requested their service! However, since so many of us have seen him swimming in the bayou, & we think it is the same one, anyone who has witnessed him & wishes to report it under that same permit # under which that the original report went in can contact FWC to “enjoin” that report. (Call Bonnie Hargrett for the contact info.)

It is very difficult for him to catch this gator. We thought the gator likely lived on one of the Vinoy Golf Course’s fresh water holes but, according to Randy Mosely, the Vinoy Golf Manager, he does not. So finding where he “lives” outside the bayou is part of the trapper’s work since it’s much easier to trap him on land rather than water! And 5’ is the length after which he should be taken out - professionally of course! There is some question as to the size of this gator. I told the trapper yesterday the one I’d seen was likely 7-8’. I sent him 2 pictures neighbors had sent me that I included in some previous Alerts I’d circulated

As you can well imagine, immediately after the child’s death in the Orlando Disney Park, FWC was called for literally HUNDREDS of gator reports - many for 2-3 foot gators…not something which is their priority. FWC is trying to capture gators over 5 ft. And in our case, they certainly don’t want to “catch” a pet with their trap so they use extreme caution in placing them. Their permit, issued on June 17th, is good for 35 days. So this trapper is still actively “working” our case but I did want to give everyone an update. Gators, like most animals, tend to feed at dawn & at dusk & that’s when most folks have seen him in the bayou. Thus far, he’s been seen off the open waters of Brightwaters, just inside the Snell Isle Bridge, in Sunset Cove (behind Coffee Pot Estates) & in the bayou near the the houses in the 1100 - 1300 block of Monterey.

PLEASE USE CAUTION WHEN OUT ON THE WATER…especially on flat boards or kayaks. We will continue to keep you posted on the status.