Alligators were present in the Everglades long before the first people arrived. However, the interaction between humans and alligators has changed significantly. Alligators have been a fantastic renewable resource for Louisiana ever since their discovery. They have long contributed to the Louisiana economy by providing food, leather for shoes, boots, and saddles, and oil for engines.

How The Relationship Between Gators and Louisiana Natives Began

Alligators have lived in Louisiana's wetlands and swamps for a long time. In reality, the first accounts of alligators in our state date back to when Sieur d'Iberville founded a settlement in 1699.

Since the early 1800s, Louisiana has actively engaged in the large-scale harvesting of alligators in the wild. While their oil was utilized in steam engines and cotton gins, people consumed its meat and used the skins to manufacture shoes, boots, and saddles. Alligator skins had high demand during the Civil War because they were used to manufacture the confederate soldiers' boots and saddles.

The early 1900s saw a rise in demand for alligator skins since they had figured out how to make them soft yet tough. The state had to take action since there were fewer alligators in the wild due to the demand increase. Louisiana banned alligator hunting from 1962 to 1971 so that they may thrive and repopulate.

Louisiana began to legalize alligator hunting in one parish (Cameron Parish) for only thirteen days in 1972. As the population increased and the hunts could continue, the state added new parishes yearly. In 1981, it finally became a statewide hunting season. Currently, hunters kill 34,000–37,000 wild alligators each year in September for their meat and skins worth over $13 million.

Overharvesting

The American alligator's future was far from guaranteed in the mid-twentieth century. In 1967, the federal government categorized this enormous reptile as an endangered species because of unrestricted hunting and habitat destruction.

The Louisiana alligator population has recovered due to state, federal, and international wildlife legislation, and it is now regarded as "one of the earliest endangered species success stories."

With over a million wild alligators living in each of Louisiana and Florida, these two states have the most significant alligator populations. Commercial alligator ranching and a set hunting season in Louisiana help to control the expanding alligator population. Using alligators in Louisiana for consumptive (meats and hides) and non-consumptive (wildlife watching) purposes generate millions of dollars in revenue for the state.

Like that of numerous other wildlife species and people along Louisiana's coast, the alligator's survival is in jeopardy. Wetland degradation combined with climate change might spell disaster for the alligator and the entire bounty of Louisiana's coast and communities throughout the state's bottom half.

Louisiana alligator populations were formerly in danger due to unrestricted killing. Still, they have now totally recovered due to intensive study, careful management, and responsible management of this priceless resource and its habitat. Alligator populations are maintained for sustainability today, and several states have alligator hunting seasons. Louisiana has created an alligator management program with controlled wild harvesting and egg collecting for commercial alligator production.

Alligator harvesting from farms and the wild totals over 300,000 yearly, yet the alligator population is stable and growing somewhat because of the state's conservation programs. There are excellent examples throughout the state demonstrating managing the alligator population in Louisiana wisely, which keeps it stable and offers the possibility of sustainable exploitation of the state's most precious renewable natural resource.

Today's relationship with Louisiana alligators

The LDWF administers the American alligator as a renewable natural resource. The wild alligator population in Louisiana has grown from less than 100,000 to more than 2 million over the past 50 years because of significant studies by LDWF and prudent management practices that include sustainable wild harvest and alligator farming. Additionally, Louisiana has multiple farms with almost a million alligators.

As the wild alligator population grew, LDWF started an alligator ranching operation. The department allows alligator farmers with a license to gather alligator eggs on private property, incubate the eggs, and allow the hatching of the eggs under optimum growing conditions, such as a sufficient food supply and suitable water and air temperatures.

When the reptiles reach 3 to 5 feet long, the farmers must release 10% of the collected eggs into the wild. It has ensured a large population of alligators in the wild, allowing the state's natural resources to flourish. Annual egg production has thought to exceed half a million. A total of 250,000 to 350,000 of the alligator farmers' grown stock, worth over 81 million dollars annually, is also harvested.

LDWF keeps a close eye on alligator farms. Before accepting facilities for licensing, staff check alligator farms to make sure they comply with criteria for temperature control, sanitary conditions, feeding, and spacing availability.

They visit each farm and measure, mark, and name each alligator before releasing it to track how many were released back into the wild. While maintaining a database of who hunted or farmed each alligator and where each hide was delivered, staff members also inspect and keep track of the size and amount of hides from alligator harvests.

Furthermore, tour companies now arrange airboat and swamp tours to help visitors look closer at their habitats. Multiple restaurants offer meals prepared with alligator meat, such as alligator tails, sausages, fillets, steaks, soups, and much more.

The Bottom Line - How Cypress Brand helps

Alligators have helped the natives by guiding them on the pathway to Bayou. History shows that the natives took alligators' assistance to find their way, while the alligators pushed the boats to help the travelers reach their destination. Therefore, their importance dates back to the older times, when the first people began living in the states.

As a native of Louisiana, Cypress Brand's creator has a healthy relationship with alligators. In addition to providing alligator enthusiasts with premium leather and sophistication, our company contributes to the control of a healthy alligator population.

Our long-lasting, American-made brand only employs wild-harvested alligator hide to help safeguard their environments.

Therefore, our distinctive and classic products keep you appearing stylish while giving you the confidence that your money is helping a cause.