Lake Waccamaw leaders, NC Wildlife officials discuss alligator hunting

LAKE WACCAMAW, NC (WWAY) — In the heart of Columbus County, along the shores of Lake Waccamaw, there is no shortage of alligators.

“You can ride from one end of Bella Coola Road in the summertime, and it’s not any problem to count 75 gators or so,” Lake Waccamaw town commissioner Matt Wilson said.

Town leaders are considering trying to control the gator populations with a new hunting season in September.

“This is a new option for towns to promote public safety in their town by taking a few alligators where needed,” said Allen Boynton from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

Hunts could be a more cost effective option than homeowners requesting alligators be removed from their property.

“That can be an expensive proposition; several hundred dollars per alligator, either if it’s done by a wildlife damage control agent or the town staff,” Boynton said.

But town leaders are wary of allowing hunters on private properties. Wilson says homeowners will get a survey to gauge their opinion.

“Throughout Lake Waccamaw, there’s really no public area to kill alligators,” Wilson said. “It’s all privately owned, so that was the big question. Each landowner is going to have to give permission for an alligator to be taken off their property.”

For now, the gators will continue to call Lake Waccamaw home, but in September, the hunt could be on.

Wildlife officials were invited to the town’s meeting next Tuesday, where the alligator hunting issue will be discussed further.