October 26, 2007
Five alligators have been discovered slaughtered, with all but one of them butchered, by poachers at a northeast Collier County marina.
The reptiles were found floating in the water, missing their heads, feet and tails, near Lake Trafford Marina on Wednesday, said Ski Olesky, marina owner.
“They were butchered for the meat and the head for a trophy,” Olesky said.
It is currently alligator hunting season, but hunters must have a permit to hunt one gator and each one killed must be tagged and taken to a processing center, according to a representative of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Florida Fish and Wildlife officers are investigating.
The penalties for illegal alligator hunting, a second-degree misdemeanor, is a $500 fine and a maximum 60 days of jail time, Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Joy Hill said Friday.
Olesky, who has been giving tours on Lake Trafford for the past 30 years, said this was the worst case he has ever seen.
“It doesn’t help my business for sure. We try to educate people with the alligators and not destroy the alligators,” he said.
Olesky, who opposes hunting gators, said during alligator hunting season, which runs from Aug. 1 to Nov. 1, he typically finds two to three dead alligators floating in the water near his marina.
To report a hunting violation, call 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment