TAMPA, Fla. — Four baby alligators are now safe after being snatched from their nest by poachers earlier this week.
Florida Fish and Wildlife received a call from a concerned person about the baby alligators. Now, the poachers are facing 14 misdemeanor charges for taking the gators and for killing an adult female gator, according to a Facebook post by the agency.
It's not clear when and where exactly the incident happened.
Alligators are a protected species in Florida making hunting them illegal. Hunters can only kill gators during the hunting season unless the agency deems it a threat, and in that case they will call a state-certified trapper to handle the reptile.
If you see an alligator that appears to be a threat, you can call the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 1-866-FWC-GATOR.
