Alabama Administrative Code
Title 220 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 220-2 - GAME AND FISH DIVISION
Section 220-2-.96 - Alligator Farming Regulations

1. The premises of alligator farms shall be subject to inspection by Department personnel at any time.

2. Complete written records of all changes in alligator stock shall be kept and made available for examination by Department personnel. Shipping tickets, invoices or bills of lading shall be maintained to show source of supply and disposition of alligator stock.

3. No licensee or his or her employee shall receive or transfer any alligator, eggs or hides except as provided by Act No. 89-874, 1989 Regular Session.

4. The licensee shall disclose ownership of alligators and provide documentation of inventory of initial and subsequent numbers of all alligator eggs and alligators, including breeding females and offspring. Documentation shall be sufficient to demonstrate the inventory is commensurate with production and survival levels for captive populations as measured against professionally accepted biological standards.

5. Permits to establish and operate alligator farms are not transferable.

6. The licensee shall provide security of facility premises necessary to ensure that no alligators, eggs, or parts thereof can be moved in or out of the alligator farm without the licensee's knowledge.

7. An Alligator Farm Annual Report shall be completed and submitted to the Department's Game and Fish Division, Law Enforcement Section prior to annual re-1icensing.

8. Alligator farm permittees shall be licensed at an annual fee of $1,000.00 as required by Act No. 89-874, 1989 Regular Session.

9. The Department shall not issue an alligator farm permit to any person who has been convicted of any violation of Act No. 89-874 or the rules of the Department relating to the illegal taking of any crocodilian species, except as provided in Act No. 89-874.

1. Pens or holding facilities shall be constructed in a manner to prevent the escape of any alligator contained in such pen or facility or entrance by any alligator from outside such pen or facility.

2. The permittee shall provide rearing tanks (of concrete, fiberglass, plastic or metal construction) for alligators less than four (4) feet in length. Alligators less than two (2) feet in length shall be housed separately from those two (2) to four (4) feet in length. Onsite propagation facilities will also provide ponds, nest sites and spacing for breeding adults and artificial incubators.

3. The licensee shall make all alligator eggs produced on the farm available for inspection by August 1 of each nesting year. All alligator eggs shall be in containers having not more than one layer of eggs at one incubation facility on each alligator farm. Only viable alligator eggs will be credited to the egg inventory.

4. Alligator farm licensees shall furnish alligators housing of sufficient size and design such that alligators shall be kept in a humane and sanitary manner.

1. General. The most important factor in establishing an alligator farm is the acquisition of enough suitable land and habitat to support a population of adult alligators in outside breeding ponds and adequate area for the construction of holding houses for young alligators up to three years of age. There must be a reliable source of fresh water and equipment for pumping and changing water.

2. Breeding ponds shall be fenced around the perimeters with woven wire or board fences of sufficient height (minimum, 4 feet) and tightness, constructed so as to prevent the escape or entrance of any size alligator. Fences shall be buried or otherwise secured at the bottom so as to prevent entrance or escape. Breeding ponds must have at least one area of a minimum depth of 1.8 meters (approximately 6 feet at its deepest point) and suitable nesting sites.

3. Holding houses containing an adequate number of artificial tanks will be provided for growing out small alligators six feet or less in length. A sufficient number of tanks will be provided to allow for segregation by age/size classes, and each tank will be permanently numbered to facilitate accurate record keeping. There shall be sufficient space in each tank for all the alligators to completely submerge under water at one time and enough "dry" area in which to run around for basking purposes. A properly constructed tank will consist of 2/3 water for 1/3 "dry" area. The overall size of tank will depend upon the number of alligators held, but as a general standard each alligator shall have enough space to submerge without having contact with another alligator.

4. Holding tanks will be designed to permit periodic cleaning of waste and a complete change of water at regular intervals (at least every other day).

5. A controlled environmental chamber complete with an artificial nesting area (incubator) will be provided for hatching of eggs. The chamber will also contain a sufficient number of holding tanks to accommodate anticipated hatchlings and to provide a suitable environment for new-born alligators.

1. Alligators, at least four feet in length, or the skins or products of such captive-reared alligators raised on a farm licensed under the provisions of Act No. 89-874, 1989 Regular Session, may be sold, and, with written approval from the Department, an alligator farmer may utilize any product from a captive-reared alligator less than four feet in length that dies from natural causes, but only in accordance with the following restrictions:

1. Alligator farmers licensed under the provisions of Act No. 89-874, 1989 Regular Session, may sell, barter, exchange, give or loan any live alligators of at least four feet in length covered by his license provided a permit is first obtained from the Department. If sold, bartered, or exchanged in interstate commerce or foreign trade, legal requirements of the state or country involved in the transaction must also be satisfied.

2. The request for such permits must contain the name and address of the proposed buyer, a reference to the buyer's license number or other authority for possession, and shall further describe the alligator(s) by length, belly size, and sex, if known.

1. Alligator meat that is lawfully acquired through production on a licensed alligator farm may be sold to wholesale or retail food distributors, food and nonfood meat processors, restaurants and canneries, provided that:

1. Alligator hides and other products, except meat, may be sold in accordance with the following: