Amid an explosion in the wild alligator population, the state wants to increase the harvest opportunity. The Louisiana Wildlife Commission has proposed extending its alligator hunting season to December 31st, beyond the current 60-day season for the East and West zones. State Representative Chad Brown of Plaquemine says the state is overrun with alligators, and they’re starting to show up in neighborhoods.
“We are seeing alligators in areas that have never seen alligators before, such as neighborhoods,” said Rep. Chad Brown (D-Plaquemine). “I produced about three or four pictures of alligators walking down the streets or sidewalks in my neighborhood. One alligator was under my wife’s car in our driveway.”
Brown says the alligator population has been exploding throughout Louisiana over the last half-century.
“We’ve probably gone from 100,000 alligators probably to a million alligators, just in certain areas,” says Brown.
That’s nearly three times the alligator population of Florida, which has the second biggest alligator population in the U.S.
Brown says it’s getting to the point that it’s affecting everyone’s quality of life.
“I know duck hunters now that refuse to take their dogs hunting with them now just for the fear of the alligators out there,” Brown says.
Wild reptile hunting seasons begin the last Wednesday in August in the East Zone and one week later in the West Zone.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is accepting public comment through May 1st.
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