Thousands of Florida alligators removed for bad behavior

Alligators make news often, and for good reason.

These prehistoric lizard-like leviathans march calmly through golf course fairways, across college campuses and end up in urban drainage systems and even neighborhood swimming pools.

Areas like Orlando, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples rank among the highest when it comes to alligator removals, according to data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the state agency that handles alligator nuisance calls.

State contractors captured and removed alligators in more than 6,500 locations in Florida in 2016, resulting in 8,050 captured animals, most of them killed.

Nuisance alligator removals have averaged 7,726 a year between 2001 and 2015. The range is from 5,833 in 2002 to a high of 11,664 in 2006. Alligators are removed when classified as a "nuisance" — longer than four feet and posing a threat to people, pets or property, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Florida's "season" may be winter and early spring, but for alligators it's summer. And the approach of the alligator breeding season makes adults irritable.

"Alligators become more active during spring when temperatures rise," said Tammy Sapp, with the Fish and Wildlife Commission. "By taking simple precautionary measures when recreating near the water, people can reduce the chances of conflicts with alligators."

Florida's alligator population is about 1.3 million, and alligators live in all 67 counties in the state.

Click on this map for nuisance alligator locations

"Alligator incidents are a rare occurrence in Florida," Sapp said. But when they occur, tragedy often follows. As of September 2016, the most recent statistics available, there were seven major alligator bites of humans and one was fatal.

One of the most high-profile recent fatalities involved 2-year-old Lane Graves of Nebraska. In 2016 the toddler and his family were visiting Disney World. While playing by the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon, the boy was grabbed by the head, pulled into the water and drowned. Fish and Wildlife removed and killed six alligators from the lagoon during the search for the child.

In 2015, the Fish and Wildlife Commission reported nine bites with one fatality. The worst year in FWC's 37-year records was 2001, when there were 16 reported alligator bites with three of them fatal. Some alligator bites are accidental. The FWC's brochure, "A guide to living with alligators", advises all victims of a bite to seek medical attention. Alligator bites can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections.

Most years, no one in Florida dies from an alligator bite.Yet gators can become a real nuisance when people feed them.

List: 24 fatal alligator attacks in Florida since 1973

Mike Reynolds, a state-contracted trapper, said it's obvious when a gator has been fed. They don't fear humans and will even approach them.

He told the story of one woman who complained that her neighbors had been feeding the alligator who lived in a pond behind her home. How did she know? When she threw rocks at the gator, he jumped up and caught them.

Some nuisance animals, like black bears, can be captured and relocated. Alligators are killed.

Big gator puttering around Estero golf course

"Relocating nuisance alligators is not a responsible option for people or alligators," Sapp said. "Relocated alligators often try to return to their capture site and can create problems for people or other alligators along the way."

So what happens to the alligator carcasses?

"When a contracted nuisance alligator trapper removes an alligator, it becomes the property of the trapper," Sapp explained. "In most cases, the alligator is processed for its hide and meat, which is the primary source of compensation for their services. Occasionally, a nuisance alligator is sold alive to an alligator farm, animal exhibit or zoo."

Connect with these reporters: Melanie Payne or Chad Gillis on Twitter. 

Tips for alligator safety 

- Never feed alligators. It makes them associate humans with food, and they also lose their natural fear of humans. Also, fed alligators are often caught and exterminated, so it's not good for the animal either. 

-  Always be aware of the possibility of alligators being in the area. 

- Don't let pets swim in areas that may have alligators as their activity can draw the attention of a hungry alligator. Do not swim with pets in fresh or brackish water. 

- Leave alligators alone. They are protected and potentially dangerous. 

- Alligators are most active from dusk until dawn, so avoid swimming at night. 

- To report a dangerous alligator, call FWC's hotline at (866) 392-4286 or 866-FWC-GATOR.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Locations with the most removals*

Orlando: 232

Sarasota: 176

Tampa: 172

Kissimmee: 164

Fort Myers: 152

Naples: 135

Lakeland: 123

Bradenton: 116

West Palm Beach: 104

Jacksonville: 101

Zip codes with the most removals*

34787: 59

34974: 58

33414: 54

33908: 54

33647: 43

33412: 50

32082: 46

33852: 46

34744: 45

34746: 45

In Lee County, the ZIP codes with the most removals were:

• 54 - South Fort Myers 33908
• 42 - Estero  33928
• 37 - North Fort Myers 33917
• 31 - Bonita Springs 34135
• 31 - Gateway/Miromar Lakes 33913 

The city of Fort Myers ZIP codes 33901 and 33916 reported one removal each, on Meadowbrook Lane and Winkler Avenue. 

*A removal is where one or more alligator is harvested

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission