The Association has received reports of an alligator in the Community’s pond. The Department of Natural Resources no longer is involved with alligators except to issue permits to HOAs for their removal. There is no “move” or “relocate.” They simply authorize the HOA to have them destroyed. Your HOA would then hire a licensed company who does that as quietly as possible…
We have an informative article on our website that we ask owners to read regarding alligators: http://cmgcharleston.com/gators.htm.
Alligators are only a hazard to people and pets when they've lost their natural fear of humans after being fed by humans – often by workmen and kids. Alligators LOVE marshmallows, food wrappers and lunch scraps...
As one recent example, we had a report from a concerned owner who reported an aggressive animal to us seen through binoculars sunning on the pond bank. Clearly this animal was not up in her yard at the time nor exhibiting aggressive behavior.
The licensed “trapper” that the Association uses from Gator Getters will approach the animal to determine from much experience whether it exhibits signs of having been fed or otherwise accustomed to humans and represents an unusual danger. He has tested this gator in the pond and has determined it is non-aggressive. Currently, it is mating season for gators and he has stated that this gator will most likely move on to another area shortly, in search of a female. There are perhaps thousands in the area and they do move around, primarily over ground, though there is a frequent (and incorrect) assumption that they move through storm culverts. On the contrary, they do not often enter them because they cannot turn around nor move well backwards.
We have seen that shortly after removal, another animal will move into a vacant pond to take its place. They were here for millions of years before people and most locals have a certain sentiment for them… When owners call with similar encounters or concerns we ask that they carefully consider whether this animal was really stalking a pet (or whatever the concern) and represents an unusual threat for being acclimated to humans as a source of food, or was just “walking around” or sunning before they call for its head. If you feel that a particular animal is a threat worthy of destruction, please let us know and we’ll elevate the request for removal to the Association Board and we will move quickly.
