City of Sanibel Alligator Policy
NUISANCE ALLIGATOR PROGRAM
The City of Sanibel has established procedures for receiving alligator and crocodile complainants and handling nuisance alligators or crocodiles. The primary factor in the evaluation is determining the potential danger posed by an alligator or crocodile.
The City of Sanibel and its authorized agents are authorized to receive and appropriately respond to citizen complaints regarding alligators on Sanibel. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission permits City of Sanibel personnel or its authorized agents, under the direction of the City Manager, Director of Natural Resources, and the Chief of Police to live-capture and to relocate alligators under certain conditions.
What are the procedures followed for such complaints?
- Dispatch receives the initial complaint and assigns an officer to respond to all alligator/crocodile calls.
- The Officer responds and makes an assessment of the alligator and determines if the alligator fits the definition as a nuisance alligator that requires destruction or fits the criteria for relocation.
- Special consideration should be given to alligator complaints and their proximity to children.
- A written alligator report will be completed on a Sanibel Police Alligator Report Form for all cases concerning an alligator complaint.
What is the definition of a nuisance Alligator/Crocodile?
The policy of the City of Sanibel Police Department mirrors the State of Florida Nuisance Alligator Program. The determination that an alligator is a nuisance will be made by the police officer responding to the complaint and the following state guidelines:
- An aggressive alligator of any length will deemed a nuisance and will be captured for destruction.
- Large alligators located in residential and commercial areas.
- Alligators that make residents feel unsafe.
- Large alligators located in high pedestrian traffic and public locations.
- Special consideration should be given to alligator complaints and their proximity to children.
If the alligator is deemed a nuisance alligator, a state trapper will be contacted to remove the alligator.
An alligator that is determined to be a non-nuisance alligator up to four (4) feet in length will be relocated to conservation areas only.