My new driver and AHFS rep.

[Jeff Teuton]

Rob, in our parish we have an Alligator Control Officer. You call him and he has the authority to do what he wants, relocate them, chootem, or whatever. He receives no pay, but gets the gator. Most of the smaller ones are relocated, the larger ones are more dangerous for pets especially and most are trapped and disposed of. During the season, anyone with tags (closely controlled) can take him (or her). About 5 years ago, we had a gator in a pond next to my property. Someone saw it come out of the water and chase a dog. It was about 1000 lbs. It was shot, and while winching it to the truck, the officer heard another splash. He hung a piece of chicken on a stick, and said he would be back in 3 days. Seems it takes 3 days to get really right for a gator. And like clockwork, in 3 days he came got another big one. About 600 lbs. An easy way to tell if there is a gotor in the pond is that the ducks stay on the land. Most are small, 6 to 8 feet. Lots of coyotes down here, as it seems everywhere else. Open season. The back of my property is against a small drainage canal which runs into very deep swamp about 2 miles down. Thus the gators. We get them all the time, usually small ones and they disappear. This one wants to move in I think. Had a little one named Lefty for quite a while. Had no right arm. He was released from an aligator farm. By law they release 13% back to the wild at 3 ft or larger. Used to release 17%, but too many now. Jerry Savoie, the pro stock bike rider, is one of the largest alligator people in the business. His main customer is Guchi (mispelled I'm sure).