KPLC (Lake Charles, Louisiana) 26 July 07 Louisiana Alligator Population on the Rise (Britney Glaser)
Two major hurricanes in 2005 followed by a drought in 2006 devastated the Louisiana alligator population, but the latest alligator research in coastal Louisiana shows that the number of alligators is on the rise.
Not only has the Louisiana alligator population proved its resiliancy, but nest production across coastal Louisiana this year is the third highest in history.
Across coastal Southwest Louisiana, alligators are once again thriving in marshy and brackish waters. But just one year ago, environmental conditions led to a 20 year low for Louisiana alligator nest production. Biologist Ruth Elsey with the Rockefeller Refuge says, "We had virtually no water out here and without the water it's just a very stressful situation for the female alligators. Our nesting was quite poor last year."
2007 has provided more rainfall and better overall conditions to dramatically increase nest production across southern Louisiana. Biologist Scooter Trosclair with the Rockefeller Refuge performed fly-overs across Southwest Louisiana coastal waterways to count the number of alligator nests. "We surveyed last year about 20,000 nests," says Trosclair, "most of these were in the eastern part of the state. This year, we're looking at roughly 42,000 coastal nests."
In Southwest Louisiana alone, there were only 2,000 alligator nests in 2006 compared to 16,000 in 2007. Elsey says, "We've had a real nice rebound and real good nesting this year. We're pleased to see the recovery after the hurricane and the drought."
Alligator farmers and biologists with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will oftentimes collect eggs from the wild to avoid natural mortality like flooding or predation - but, once hatched, 14 percent of the eggs must be released back to the wetlands within two years. Elsey says this process is beneficial to both landowners and trappers. "It's sort of a win-win situation," says Elsey. "We can use this resource at both ends - both the eggs and the adults and yet the population is still having a slow-steady increase."
In 2006, Louisiana alligators (both meat and hide) accounted for about $60 million dollars for the state.
The following is data collected by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries:
*Louisiana Coastal Marsh Alligator Nest Production:
2006: 20,400 nests
2007: 42,200 nests
*Louisiana Alligator Nest Production for Coastal Marshes by Region and Ownership:
2006: SW Private- 1,047 SW Public- 972 SE Private-17,176 SE Public-1,192
2007: SW Private-11,798 SW Public-3,987 SE Private-23,109 SE Public-3,260
If you are interested in learning more about alligator farming, trapping or obtaining tags for alligator harvesting, click http://www.wlf.state.la.us/
Louisiana Alligator Population on the Rise