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S.C. DNR officer briefs county on nuisance alligators, foxes, coyotes and fencing limits
Summary
Justin Gant, 1st sergeant with South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Region 4, advised residents to keep distance from alligators, explained the state’s nuisance-alligator removal contract process and suggested private trappers or depredation permits for foxes and coyotes. He warned fences can be ineffective against alligators.
Justin Gant, 1st sergeant for S.C. Department of Natural Resources Region 4, gave a short presentation on coexisting with wildlife during the committee meeting.
Gant explained the nuisance-alligator procedure: when an alligator in a public area poses a hazard the DNR contacts a contracted nuisance wildlife operator who is authorized to remove the animal. "They will contact them, they'll have tags, they can then remove that alligator if it's deemed to be harm to the public," he said. He also said feeding wildlife or leaving carcasses can habituate animals to humans and increase aggressive encounters.
On resident actions, Gant advised keeping distance and noted that alligators are common in many bodies of water, including ponds and brackish marshes. "The best thing to do is to keep your distance from it," he said. He told the room fences can be climbed or burrowed under and are not foolproof protection from alligators, and recommended contacting homeowners associations or a DNR alligator coordinator when nuisance animals appear.
The presentation also covered foxes, coyotes and feral pigs: Gant said a fur-bearer/depredation permit or a private trapper are practical options for landowners; there is no closed season on feral pigs and private trapping may be the most effective control in neighborhood settings. Council members asked several follow-up questions about signs, removal options and local hotspots; no county action followed the presentation.
