Highlights
Why it Matters: California’s statewide prohibition on the import and sale of alligator products threatens to disrupt the market for American alligator products which is critical to supporting conservation efforts for the American alligator and its threatened habitats.
American alligators are a listed species under the Endangered Species Act, but the species is only listed due to its similarity in appearance with threatened crocodilian species. The American alligator population has recovered, and it is a conservation success that the hunting community should continue to celebrate.
If states like California, however, can disrupt the alligator products market, private landowners would be disincentivized from managing habitat to support American alligators. Wetlands, marshes, and associated habitats are some of the most threatened habitats in the country, and the regulated hunting of alligators and the trade of alligator products provides important economic incentives for landowners to conserve habitat that benefits American alligators.
The hunting of American alligators and the trade of alligator products is consistent with the principles of wildlife management and sustainable harvest. Let’s hope the rule is adopted as proposed to add a new chapter to the conservation success story of the ‘gator’.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
