Hes said to have a net worth of $2 million and earns $30,000 per month from the show. A seven-foot alligator sent a Florida woman to the hospital Tuesday after biting her in the leg, according to a local report. Answer 4: An alligator skin can sell for around $100. The trapper is then permitted to sell that animal to a farm or have it processed for its hide and meat, and keep whatever they make in sales. I was medically retired in 2014, so I moved back . Swamp People: How Much Do the Alligator Hunters Make From the Show. Alligator sales in Louisiana dropped to an all-time low due to increased competition from overseas. The estimated additional pay is $53,933 per year. Rest assured, serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, according to the FWC. Answer 2: Alligator trappers in the United States make around $12 to $15 per hour. Hourly. Ray resides in Naples with his wife of 18years, their 8 rescued dogs, 3 rescued cats and even 2 rescued bunnies! Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, Other Services (except Public Administration), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, Administrative, Support and Waste Management Services. Similar to any other job, their salary will increase as they gain experience. Entry-level Hunters and Trappers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $19,170 to $24,930 per year or $9 to $12 per hour. Entry-level hourly wage $9 to $12 per hour Entry-level Hunters and Trappers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $19,170 to $24,930 per year or $9 to $12 per hour. To put your alligator trapping skills to the test, apply by April 14. History docuseries Swamp People captures the reality of an alligator hunters job, and it doesnt come easy. Answer 8: The average alligator trapper in the United States sells around 1500 alligators for meat a year. A true Renaissance Man, prior to becoming the modern-day trapper, Ray worked as a certified New Jersey firefighter, state licensed security office, insurance agent, painting contractor, electrician, and artist (painting murals and decorative finishes in several of his clients homes). For the past eightyears, Ray has been on call day and night, trapping alligators, crocodiles, and black bears as requested by FWC. FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) to address complaints concerning specific alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property. Average hourly wage. The FWC emphasizes that income earned from being a nuisance alligator trapper may be insufficient to fully support an individual or family, adding that most trappers have additional sources. She catches at least 200 . This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. Similar to any other job, their salary will increase as they gain experience. Ricky Kramer, a trapper whose area includes Palm Beach County, said he catches about 400 nuisance gators per year. all specialties and locations. Currently, season 12 follows 19 cast members. (Christy Kroboth) Kroboth received a phone call at 6 . How much does the average alligator trapper make in a year after expenses? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He paid up to $40 per foot and resold the skins to fashion giants such as Hermes, Gucci and Prada. Another dent in the market was made by animal rights activists promoting the use of fake hides, said University of Florida wildlife ecology professor Frank Mazzotti. Trappers must be careful when handling alligators as they can be very aggressive. Alligator Adventure/Animal Staff. Answer 6: The average alligator trapper in the United States make around $20000 a year after expenses. Bradley Weidenhamer, 10, who died after he was attacked by a 400-pound alligator on the Loxahatchee River in 1993. View salary ranges, bonus, and benefits information for this job. Gators are federally protected but the state can manage their population. Get to know more about Ray the Trapper, a FWC nuisance alligator trapper in Collier County through his biography and photos. During the luxury heyday - when we all watched Dynasty, wore big shoulderpads and carried alligator handbags, hides of wild alligators soared as high as $60 per foot, according to the Louisiana. Consider it an exclusive group of fearless people on call ready to face a gator. We've identified nine states where the typical salary for a Trapper job is above the national average. #SwampPeople. Hunters and Trappers hunt and trap wild animals for human consumption, fur, feed, bait, or other purposes. The FWC emphasizes that income earned from being a nuisance alligator trapper may be insufficient to fully support an individual or family, adding that most trappers have additional sources. They can make around $100000 a year sometimes more. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Farris Bryant Building Featured Schools Salary rank Salary rank D And that's where we take the shot. Privately Licensed as a nuisance trapper, Ray also responds to calls for other wildlife situations. This employer has claimed their Employer Profile and is engaged in the Glassdoor community. By 1975, it was costing the FWC $250,000 per year to respond to nuisance alligator complaints, according to a 1989 report cited by the Fourth Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference. Shizuka Matsuki, 47, was killed in 2018 when she was attacked by an alligator while walking her dogs in Davies Silver Lakes Rotary Nature Park. That year, 535 gators were harvested by trappers. Copyright 2023 Recruiter.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Alligator trappers make a very good living. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. You know youre from Florida when the sight of an alligator swimming in your pool on a Friday morning is what you call a great start to your weekend.. Answer 7: Alligator meat can sell for around $5 a pound. Cast member Glenn Guist reportedly earned a net worth of $700,000 from "Swamp People." That means Floridians can't just call up a local trapper to remove a troublemaker alligator like they can a raccoon or iguana. Nuisance alligator trappers are primarily compensated by their marketing and sale of alligator products (hides and meat) from nuisance alligators taken. 2023 www.palmbeachpost.com. The FWC will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation. According to the job description, trappers typically make house calls to remove gators about 4 feet long found in pools or garages. The FWC decides whether the gator poses a risk and will then assign a trapper that it contracts with and licenses. FWC Contracted Nuisance Alligator Trapper (NAT), Privately Licensed Nuisance Wildlife Trapper. A 13-foot alligator, named Godzilla, was captured in Sugar Land, Texas, Sunday by Christy Kroboth, who works for the Houston-based Gator Squad. The peak season for alligator trapping is during the summer when the animals are most active. Ray the Trapper Ray Simonsen, Sr. raythetrapper@gmail.com (239) 410-2408. It's easy. Hunters and Trappers with little to no experience tend to make between $19110 and $23500 while the more experienced ones can earn over $40980 per year. The woman was pulled into deeper water and died as a result of the attack. Know Your Worth. Ty :). The state of Florida pays 'alligator trappers' to deal with rogue gators at $30 a pop here's what it's like to be one. He also responds privately to local calls for wildlife situations, including raccoons, possums, armadillos, birds, bob cats, and even venomous snakes! Lane Graves, 2, died in 2016 after he was snatched from the shore of a Disney World resort by an alligator. She's a Grandma and an Alligator Trapper See how the Florida woman catches gators at least 200 a year. Part of the blame for the tanking wild gator hide market is the fashion appeal of pristine skins that come from gator farms. Now, he said he makes $10 to $25 depending on length. When trappers are needed, applications submitted within the last 12 months for the specific area of need are considered. Start the day smarter Notable deaths in 2023 . As a result, Swamp People can make lots of money by selling the alligators after catching them. But the once self-sustaining industry where trappers sold the skins to pay for their efforts has been shattered, in part, by the caprice of the fashion industry and ire of animal rights activists, according to hunters and a leading wildlife ecologist. [TRENDING: Fla. works to stop catastrophic pond collapse | Naval mine washes ashore in Fla. | Surfs up: Dogs ride the waves]. Done correctly, it brings benefits to ecosystems and makes people safe.. Kramer remembers earning $60 a foot for wild alligator hide at the peak of the market. (239) 410-2408. But, remember, not every alligator hunter stars on a famous reality show like Swamp People. So, how much does the average (non-celebrity) alligator hunter make? Ray the Trapper attends schools, news broadcasts and community events with his alligator friends and other wildlife to educate the public about these fascinating animals. Be able to supply any equipment necessary to take alligators (truck, boat, snares, hooks, etc). Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. There are an estimated 1.3 million alligators in Florida a symbol of successful restoration of a species that was near extinction in the 1950s after a demand for alligator hides led to an uncontrolled slaughter. At first glance, the requirements seem simple. Get started with a free resume review. Project a positive image to the public and media. An experimental nuisance alligator program encompassing 11 counties began in 1977. At least an increase in stipend might help us offset our fuel costs., People want pristine gator skins, not ones with scars. The season begins on the first Wednesday of September and lasts for 30 days. Please update your application on an annual basis to maintain an active application for consideration should a need arise. The FWC pays trappers a $30 stipend to catch a nuisance alligator. How much do alligator trappers make per hour? But to nab them, she has to make more than 1,000 house calls where someone has complained about a nuisance gator. The 43-year-old woman was out walking her dog near a lake in Palm . People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals supported the ban. According to the job description, there is an opportunity for a promotion or tuition. In addition alligators can be found in difficult to reach places such as swampy areas with thick vegetation. Swamp People have the tags necessary to allow them to make hunting gators their job, which takes up 30 days of the year. A Hunter or Trapper can get salaries in a range of $24,090 - $48,950 based on experience and education levels. Usually, alligator hunters work freelance and dont make any money until they have an alligator to show.