Let's go gator hunting

From The Washington Post:

MIAMI -- More than 18,000 times last year, Florida wildlife biologists heard a complaint about an alligator.

There's a gator swimming in our lake.

There's a gator sunning itself in my back yard.

There's a gator who ate my dog.

Now, as more and more of the reptiles once prized as endangered are being tagged by Floridians as nuisances, the state wildlife commission is considering rules that would make it easier to trap and kill the black, scaly creatures slumbering on suburban patios. Some proposals might allow homeowners to trap the critters themselves, rather than calling in state-hired trappers. Other ideas include altering the animal's legal status from "species of special concern" to "game," and allowing more extensive hunting.

The state population of alligators is estimated at more than 1 million.

Animal rights activists will kick and scream at the idea of having a hunting season for alligators however it is the most sensible thing to do. The meat from the gator's tail is good when prepared correctly and the skin makes truly excellent leather.

I used to spend 10 to 20 dollars every year on a wallet made from calf skin. I needed a new one every year because they would wear out after being carried about that long. 8 years ago I bought an alligator wallet in New Orleans. It is still in good shape. In another two or three years I'll get another one. When you look at how many cow leather wallets I would have had to buy over that 10-11 year period the alligator is actually going to save me money.

Gators as game animals are useful to humans and animals that are useful to humans are never endangered. Gators that cannot be harvested for their meat and leather are a nuisance at best and a danger at worst and animals which annoy or threaten humans will always be at risk.

From what I've learned about Florida from reading Shooting the Messenger I don't doubt that Florida will do the right thing.