Alligator conservation and hunting efficiency

Abstract

AbstractThe successful conservation of Florida's alligator rests, among other things, on a recreational harvest program that provides seasonal, nontransferable hunting permits. We develop an economic hunting model adapted from evolutionary ecology to show how the incentives under Florida's program still allow for efficient behavior. Hunters can select the length for kill from a given length‐frequency distribution and pursue alligators for revenue from hide and meat. We exploit extensive data sets on harvest reports, alligator population estimates, permit costs, and annual prices for wild hides and meat across 33 alligator management units in Florida between 2000 and 2015. We show that an increase in the abundance of bulls increases the minimum length of alligator for kill, while an increase in prices and cost of foraging time pushes hunters to accept smaller alligators for harvest. Understanding the drivers of human hunting behavior is essential for effective wildlife management.Recommendations for Managers Effective wildlife management relies on the understanding of both animal and human dynamics. Alligator population levels are actively monitored but there is limited understanding of hunter behavior. Our research shows that recreational alligator hunters in Florida respond to abundance levels of bulls, and prices and cost of foraging time by adjusting the smallest length of alligator for harvest. Management of harvest quotas should actively consider behavioral responses of hunters.