are not available to fully document its function 

 (Campbell 1973, Herzog 1974, Garrick and Lang 

 1977). 



Copulation takes place in the water (Mcllhenny 

 1935, Joanen 1969). Nests are built and eggs 

 layed in May to June depending on local climate, 

 and eggs hatch in August to September (Kellog 

 1929, Mcllhenny 1935, Joanen 1969, Neill 1971). 

 Clutch size varies from 20 to 60 eggs. 



At least some females are protective of the 

 nest and remain nearby during the incubation 

 period. Eggs hatch in about 9 weeks. The 23cm 

 hatchlings are very vocal with a high-pitched 

 "umph, umph" which may stimulate the female 

 to help open the nest. The young often stay to- 

 gether in a "pod" for the rest of the summer 

 (Mcllhenny 1935, Campbell 1973, McNease and 

 Joanen 1974). Tagged young have been recaptured 

 near the nest site as long as 3 years after hatching 

 (Mcllhenny 1935, Joanen 1969, Campbell 1973, 

 McNease and Joanen 1974,Metzen 1979). 



Survival rate is unknown except in local situa- 

 tions, but is expected to be low in mature popula- 

 tions and higher in depleted populations. Variation 

 in water level appears to be the major limiting 

 factor on nesting success (Hineset al. 1968, Joanen 

 1969, Nichols etal. 1976). 



Growth rates of the young vary widely but 

 may approach 0.3m per year with optimal habitat 

 and food availability (Mcllhenny 1935, Jo; nen 

 and McNease 1975). Subadults often stay togeth- 

 er in loose groups until they are about Im long; 

 those over 1.5 m long often make extensive pre- 

 sumed dispersal movements (Chabreck 1965, 

 McNease and Joanen 1974). 



MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION 



Laws protecting alligators were, with some 

 exceptions, ineffective until amendment of the 

 Lacy Act in 1969 enabled the federal government 

 to control interstate shipment of alligator hides. 

 By the late 1960's, populations began to increase 

 in the Louisiana coastal marshes due to better law 

 enforcement and excellent landowner coopera- 

 tion. However, populations in other States did 

 not begin to increase on a wide scale until inter- 

 state control of marketing of illegal hides was 

 achieved (Chabreck 1971b). With effective control 

 of poaching since 1969, alligator populations have 

 made substantial recoveries in most areas of the 

 species' range. 



The rapid resurgence suggests that the species 

 is highly responsive to conservation efforts and 

 amenable to standard management programs. 



Managed harvests are now being made in three 

 Louisiana parishes — Calcasieu, Cameron, and 

 Vermillion — which are listed as threatened (Simi- 

 larity of Appearance) on the Endangered Species 

 List of the U.S. Department of Interior. A sport 

 hunting program is being developed in the same 

 area. A control program for nuisance alligators in 

 Florida derives much of its overhead from com- 

 mercial use of the skins. 



The U.S. Fish and WildHfe Service's Recovery 

 Plan for the species is in draft form and a com- 

 plex set of regulatory and management recom- 

 mendations for dealing with regional and local 

 problems and opportunities will soon be proposed. 



AUTHORITIES 



Frosty Anderson (Recovery Team) 

 National Audubon Society 

 Miles Wildlife Sanctuary 

 Sharon, CT 06069 



Howard W. Campbell (Recovery Team) 

 National Fish and Wildlife Laboratory 

 412 N.E. 16th Avenue, Room 250 

 Gainesville, FL 32601 



Robert Chabreck (Recovery Team) 

 School of Forestry and Wildlife Management 

 Louisiana State University 

 Baton Rouge, LA 70803 



Tommy Hines (Recovery Team) 

 Florida Game and Fresh Water 



Fish Commission 

 4005 South Main Street 

 Gainesville, FL 32601 



Ted Joanen (Recovery Team Leader) 

 Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge 

 Route l,Box 20-B 

 Grand Chenier, LA 70643 



Larry McNease 

 Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge 

 Route 1, Box 20-B 

 Grand Chenier, LA 70643 



Thomas Murphy 



Biologist 



Coco Sabo Plantation 



Greenpond, SC 29446 



Ronald R. Odom (Recovery Team) 

 Georgia Game and Fish Division 

 Endangered Species Program 

 Route 2 

 Social Circle, GA 30279 



