Dave Taylor

Stomachs from 111 adult-size (~1.83 m) alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) were collected during September 1981 and 1982. Alligators were harvested from cypress (Taxodium distichum) lake habitat. Reptiles and amphibians ranked highest in frequency of occurrence, but mammals were the most important food items in percent weight and percent volume. Reptiles and amphibians, primarily turtles, were second in importance, followed closely by fish, primarily non-game species. Non-food items comprised almost 25% of stomach contents by weight and volume.

From June 1981 to June 1982, a radio-telemetry study was conducted on 9 adult (≥1.8 m) female alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) within a cypress (Taxodium distichum) lake in northwestern Louisiana. Minimum home range size varied from 0.8 to 256 ha (x = 56 ha) while average daily distance traveled varied from 2.3 to 238 m (x =20 m). Data collected through additional monitoring throughout 3 nesting and hunting seasons indicated a low nesting effort averaging 28% per year, a low degree of visibility during night counts, and a low proportion of transmittered females were harvested (10...

Inventory methods, harvest regulations, tagging requirements, reporting requirements, and a computer program were established to regulate and monitor the harvest of surplus alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in Louisiana and yet distribute the kill in proportion to existing populations over the area open for harvest. Ten seasons were authorized for the taking of alligators between 1972 and 1983. In 1972, only 1 parish was open for hunting; the hunt area was gradually expanded until in 1981 it was statewide. During the 10 alligator seasons, 5,337 licensed hunters harvested 100,712...

A telemetric study was conducted on immature alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in two north Louisiana lakes, Black Bayou Lake and Wham Brake Reservoir, from 10 April, 1975, through 4 December, 1975. Twenty-three alligators, 11 native and 12 introduced from a coastal marsh habitat were fitted with color-coded neck-collar radio transmitters and their daily movements followed with a directional receiver. Minimum home range sizes varied from 0.8 to 321 hectares for all animals with no significant difference being found between range sizes oflocal and introduced alligators.