This large-scale hunting and poaching, along with loss of habitat, reduced the alligator population so dramatically that it was on the brink of extinction.
The alligator was considered to be in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range in 1967, when it was listed as an extinct species.
Today, alligators are found in all parts of the United States, including Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
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Are alligators still on the endangered species list?
Alligators are found in the wetlands of the southern United States. Close to extinction, the reptiles were hunted. Hunting was banned and their habitat was protected after they were listed. The species was removed from the endangered species list in 2006 after making a dramatic recovery.
Are alligators still protected in Florida?
Under florida law, alligators are protected. Tyson Matthews said that you need a permit in order to take alligators. Unless you’re doing so to protect a person or property, you’re not allowed to shoot and kill alligators.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has been working with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) to develop a plan to manage the alligator population in the Everglades.
The plan is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will be submitted to the state legislature for approval.
Can you hunt alligators in Florida?
The statewide alligator hunt is legal, but you need a permit to participate. The hunt will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 31, and will be open to alligators, crocodiles and alligator snapping turtles, as well as other wildlife.
What happens if alligators go extinct?
If alligators are removed from their native ecosystem, it would affect countless other species. New teeth come in when an American alligator’s teeth wear down. In its lifetime, an alligator can go through thousands of teeth.
Are alligators nicer than crocodiles?
Behavior. Crocodiles are often regarded as much more aggressive than alligators. Alligators are more likely to attack humans if provoked than crocodiles, so if you want to avoid contact with both animals, you should.
Alligators can be found in all parts of Florida, but are most common along the Gulf Coast. They are also found throughout the rest of the United States. Alligators are not native to the U.S., but were brought to Florida by European settlers.
Are alligators federally protected?
Alligators are still protected under federal law. All of the states have their own laws regarding human interactions with alligators. According to the Alabama Department ofConservation and Natural Resources, Alabama has been the first state to protect alligators. “Alabama is the only state in the U.S. that does not have an alligator management plan in place,” the ADCNR said in a statement.
“The state has not had a comprehensive plan since the late 1970s, and it is unclear if the state will ever have one.
