Notes from the Nemenator

Yesterday boasted two adventures in bringing Florida’s wildlife indoors. First, the successful venture was Flux, my friend Tony’s dog. Tony is going to Hong Kong next week, so Flux and I were testing each other out. It went well.

The second was more traumatic and involved closing my venetian blinds.

At least now I know why my dining room smelled funny.

Also in animal related matters, I’ve gotten some flak from animal lovers about my new gator head. Perhaps the purchase was a little rash (as was the white jumpsuit), but to justify my decision, a brief history of gator farming from The Gator Hole:

During the 1960’s the alligators population continued to diminish. Poaching of the alligator was widespread, and because of a loophole in state laws, authorities were unable to shut down the interstate network of illegal hide dealers. Finally, in 1967, the American Alligator was placed on the first Endangered Species List. In 1970, federal regulations were imposed that effectively ended the illegal alligator market, and the populations of alligators began to rebound. It has been speculated that perhaps the alligators population was never as bad as originally thought, but that the alligator had just become more adept at eluding humans.

In 1977, the alligator was reclassified from an endangered to a threatened species. This change in status allowed the alligator to once again be available for commercial use. During the 1980’s the alligator became to be viewed as a renewable resource, and several alligator management programs were instituted by the State of Florida. These programs allowed for controlled hunting of the alligator by private individuals and the collection of eggs and hatchlings by licensed alligator farms.

Alligator farming is now a thriving business, with an estimated 30+ alligator farms in the State of Florida. This multi-million dollar industry generates approximately 300,000 pounds of meat and over 15,000 skins a year. Alligator meat averages $5-$7 a pound wholesale, and while skin prices vary year to year, the average price is around $25 per foot. Currently in the state of Florida, it is estimated that we are home to over 1,000,000 alligators, not counting those raised on the commercial alligator farms.