Public forum to discuss alligator management plan

LELAND, NC (WWAY) –  If you have an opinion on hunting or managing alligators in the area, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the N.C. Alligator Task Force wants to hear from you.

The groups are holding public forums on November 1, 2 and 3 to receive public input on management of American alligators in North Carolina.

This input will be used as the North Carolina Alligator Task Force develops an alligator management plan.

The alligator management plan will include:

Evaluation of all available biological information on alligators in North Carolina,
Identification of knowledge gaps and additional research needed on alligator population demography, historical changes in alligator habitats, and public attitudes and opinions on alligator conservation,
Identification of areas where alligators may be over-populated and recommend biological and social strategies to address alligator management issues in these areas,
Recommendations of geographical management zones,
Recommendations for metrics to establish the number of permits per year that could be issued for opportunities to harvest alligators by hunting where sustainable and consistent with local alligator population, habitat, and social conditions, and
Recommendations on a framework for gathering public input on the North Carolina Alligator Management Plan.

The forum in Leland is Tuesday, November 1 from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Leland Town Hall Council Chambers.

Other forums will follow in Swansboro and Manteo.

If you can’t attend a forum but want to share input, you can submit comments to Allen Boynton, Wildlife Diversity Program coordinator, at allen.boynton@ncwildlife.org.

For more information on alligators in North Carolina, visit the NC Wildlife Resources Commission’s website.