Gator Hunting May Become Easier in Fla.

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said they are considering easing regulations on hunting American alligators.

Officials said the once-endangered gators have made a massive comeback since being declared endangered by the U.S. government in 1967 and limited hunting has since been permitted for the animals. Now, wildlife commission officials say restrictions on hunting the reptiles may be loosened to a point similar to turkey, deer and hogs, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported Thursday.

We’re prepared to ask the question: ‘How are we going to relax protections?’ said Harry Dutton, alligator-management coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in Tallahassee. We might be able to harvest alligators without pinpoint precision. Everything is under a tight rein right now.

Dutton conceded that some Floridians believed the government is already too lax of gator hunting, the Dayton Beach (Fla.) News-Journal reported.

There’s one group of people who think we’re way too restrictive and another group of people who think we’re way too liberal and don’t do enough to protect them, he said.