Gator policy still floats

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Executive Director Eva Rey and other officials are determined that Ranch residents and gators can co-exist peacefully as neighbors in the Ranch.

In November, Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club resident Ron Jarvis pointed out to Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 2, 5 and 6 supervisors that the community doesn’t have a clear cut policy in place to prevent gators from being unnecessarily trapped and killed.

The supervisors agreed to investigate but hit a snag earlier last week when District 2, 5 and 6 attorney Andy Cohen submitted an opinion for agenda review meetings earlier in the week that warned the boards against creating a policy.

Cohen cited a liability problem as an issue for his recommendation, noting that if residents don’t report a gator and it ends up hurting a resident, the district could be liable for its role in the policy.

“My job is to protect the district I represent,” Cohen said. “If the alligator in questions stays put and then god forbid someone is hurt or something worse happens, we have a problem. I recognize the issue that no one wants to see a harmless animal remove and we all know they don’t go to a farm when a trapper is called. It’s a delicate balance.”

Currently, if a Ranch resident calls Florida Fish & Wildlife, wildlife officials send a trapper out to remove a gator from the area’s habitat, regardless if it’s a threat to the area or not.

Supervisors, though, urged staff to continue discussions with FWC to come up with an educational balance.
Rey is hopeful her staff can present a viable gator policy option next month to board supervisors that appease everyone.

“I think everyone will be happy with the communications we’re having with FWC,” Rey said. “I think we will have a nice balance for your review next month.”

Rey said staff is working to craft an educational presentation that lets residents know when gators are a nuisance that explains they aren’t threatening anyone if they are in a pond or even crossing a road or sidewalk.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].