Ranch secures gator permitting change

Officials of Lakewood Ranch Town Hall are now on their way to better regulating how alligator trapping is conducted in Lakewood Ranch. 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission this month approved Town Hall’s request for a targeted harvest area permit, which will allow Lakewood Ranch’s community development districts to set more controls for trapping nuisance alligators on community development district property.

Previously, Town Hall simply authorized trappers to come on site to remove nuisance gators, once contacted by the FWC because of a resident complaint.

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Executive Director Eva Rey said some planned changes include issuing permits for 30 rather than 45 days and only allowing trappers to trap in the lake in which the nuisance alligator was reported. Currently, trappers can travel from pond to pond. 

Over the next few weeks, Town Hall officials will interview Manatee County’s five licensed trappers to see which it will allow on property. 

Full details of permit requirements and trapper selections will come before the boards at their April meeting, Rey said.

Rey said the districts will not change their existing nuisance alligator policy, which does not allow for Town Hall to make judgements about whether a reported nuisance alligator actually is acting aggressively. If a resident requests a gator’s removal, the gator will be removed.

“Our policy stands,” Rey said. “This is about improving the process. Now we we know when trappers are on the property and have more of a monitoring posture.”

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].