I suppose it's because the "myth" is perpetuated by FWC who state on their website that no alligators are relocated.
Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program
Question:
What happens to nuisance alligators when they are removed by trappers?
Answer:
When a nuisance alligator trapper removes an alligator, it becomes the property of the trapper. In most cases, the alligator is killed and processed for its hide and meat. Occasionally, a nuisance alligator is sold alive to an alligator farm, animal exhibit or zoo.
Nuisance alligator trappers work under contract with the FWC. They are not state employees. The sale of the alligator hide and meat is their primary compensation. This system results in tremendous savings to Florida's taxpayers.
Question:
Why does the FWC not relocate nuisance alligators in Florida?
Answer:
Florida has a healthy and stable alligator population. We have about 1.3 million alligators in Florida. Alligators live in all 67 counties, and they inhabit all wild areas of Florida that can support them. The removal of nuisance alligators does not have a significant impact on our state's alligator population.
Relocated alligators often try to return to their capture site. They can create problems for people or other alligators along the way. If an alligator successfully returns, capturing it again would be necessary and likely more difficult the second time.
To avoid creating a problem at the release site, nuisance alligators would need to be relocated to remote areas where they would not encounter people. These remote areas already have healthy alligator populations, and the ones that already live there have established social structures. The introduction of a new alligator to these areas would likely cause fighting, possibly resulting in the death of a resident alligator or the introduced alligator.
