Alligator Research In Florida: A Progress Report

Since the summer of 1965, an alligator research program has been conducted in the Everglades of southern Florida. This report describes the progress of the program. Various capture and marking techniques are described and evaluated. Data on growth rates, movement, homing tendencies, and sex and age interpretation from approximately 1,000 tagged alligators are presented. Life history observations, including population trends, activity surrounding a "gator hole", and the effect of water level fluctuation are reported. Man's influences on the alligator population, both from the standpoints of habitat manipulation and poaching, are discussed.