Thirteen years ago, as an animal- control officer in Tampa, Charles Carpenter started Animal Capture of Florida. It was a removal service, mostly trapping stray cats at apartment complexes. He didn’t make much of a profit, so he increased margins by doing repairs-fixing holes raccoons made in the attic, etc.
Five years ago he jumped at the chance to become the state-contracted alligator trapper for Hillsborough County. It looked like fun.
His revenues come from a mix of gator and other animal removal and damage repair, and in a good month he’ll gross up to $30,000. Revenue from catching gators depends entirely on the animal. The state contracts with one trapper for each county, and Carpenter makes money by exhibiting or selling what they catch.
A processor will pay as much as $1,000 for a big gator. The hide and meat are used commercially, but if the meat’s bad from an infection, it cuts the price. Sometimes a gator’s in such bad shape from fighting that he can’t sell it, and he loses money removing it.
As state agents, they are required to respond to each call at no charge. In the warmer months they’ll show live nine- or ten-footers at company headquarters and charge a few bucks for admission.
Photo by Preston Mack.
DeeJay on July 12th, 2007 at 7:41 am
After this post I’m definitevely your reader. ;)