Congressman Proposes Federal Study on Alligator Management
The GATOR Act would examine whether wildlife protections hinder removing alligators near homes in Florida.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Reptiles
Live Poll
Should Florida residents be able to remove nuisance alligators more easily near their homes?
Florida Congressman Greg Steube introduced the GATOR Act, calling for a federal study of whether current wildlife protections obstruct managing alligators near homes and private property. The proposal would not immediately change Florida's existing nuisance alligator program, and it follows fatal alligator attacks that killed 71-year-old Steven Hamilton and 31-year-old Brittany Clark.
Why it matters
Alligators live in all 67 Florida counties, and encounters with people have increased as drought pushed the animals from natural habitats into larger lakes. Feeding alligators causes them to lose their fear of humans, which raises the danger for residents statewide.
Nuisance alligators are removed only when they threaten people, pets, or property, and an alligator at least four feet long generally qualifies if believed to be a threat. Orange County removed 527 of 807 nuisance calls in 2025, and Volusia County removed 249 of 386 reported alligators.
The players
Greg Steube
Greg Steube is a Florida congressman who introduced the GATOR Act to request a federal study of alligator management protections.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is the state agency that manages wildlife, including the Nuisance Alligator Program, and reports that Florida's alligator population is healthy.
The details
The GATOR Act asks for a federal review of wildlife protections that may limit management of alligators near homes. Under Florida's Nuisance Alligator Program, a removed animal's fate is decided by the trapper, who may sell it to alligator farms or euthanize it for its hide and meat. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says the state has a healthy alligator population.
Timeline
2025: Orange County logged 807 nuisance calls and removed 527 alligators.
2025: Volusia County removed 249 alligators out of 386 reports.
This year: Unprecedented drought pushed alligators from natural habitats into larger lakes.
Roadmap
The GATOR Act would not immediately alter Florida's Nuisance Alligator Program, which removes alligators only when they pose a threat. The proposal instead asks for a federal study of whether existing wildlife protections limit how that program operates near homes.
Residents who encounter a nuisance alligator can contact the FWC Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286. Feeding alligators increases the risk of attack, so residents should avoid it.
The takeaway
Alligators lose their fear of people when they are fed, so keeping them wild and unfed is the safest approach near homes. Residents should report nuisance animals to state authorities rather than attempting removal themselves.
Further reading
For more on the animals at the center of this debate, see Reptiles coverage on Wisevoter.
More information
To report a nuisance alligator, call the FWC Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WESH.
Live Poll
Should Florida residents be able to remove nuisance alligators more easily near their homes?
