The arthur r. Marshall loxahatchee national wildlife refuge, covering 585 KM of everglades ecosystems in florida, is managed by the U.S. Fish and wildlife service (FWS)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) awarded $164,876 to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute under the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements program (CFDA 15.654) on October 1, 2025. The cooperative agreement, which extends through September 30, 2030, supports a comprehensive research initiative to evaluate the impacts of expanding alligator hunting operations in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. The project delivers scientific monitoring and population assessment services through annual spotlight surveys, telemetry tracking using GPS cellular transmitters, and connectivity studies examining alligator movement between the refuge and adjacent stormwater treatment areas. These research products will inform management decisions regarding hunting area expansion and harvest quota development for sustainable alligator population management.

The deliverables under this award include population trend data from current and proposed hunt zones, movement pattern analysis derived from a four-year telemetry pilot study, habitat utilization assessments, and nesting status documentation. By examining inter-area connectivity of alligator populations and monitoring dispersal patterns between the refuge and surrounding habitats, the research balances wildlife conservation objectives with recreational hunting opportunities while addressing ecological uncertainties critical to refuge management decisions.

Established in 1951, IT supports diverse habitats including wet prairies, sawgrass ridges, sloughs, tree islands, cattail communities, and a cypress swamp. Since 2014, limited alligator hunting has been permitted in the refuge, with annual spotlight surveys conducted to monitor population trends and inform harvest quotas.expanding hunting to the northern portion of the refuge was proposed in the 2019 visitor services plan. This study aims to evaluate the potential impacts of the expansion on alligator populations by examining their connectivity with adjacent stormwater treatment areas (stas) using telemetry and potentially nesting surveys. Key objectives include monitoring population trends in current and proposed hunt areas and investigating alligator movement between the refuge and stas. To further assess alligator movement and habitat use, this project proposes theuse of GPS cellular transmitters attached to captured alligators. Telemetry data will provide insights into movement patterns, nesting status, and the factors influencing alligator distribution. A pilot study of transmitter attachment methods will determine optimal approaches for long-term monitoring over the next four years. This multifaceted project aims to balance wildlife conservation with hunting opportunities while addressing uncertainties related to inter-area connectivity of alligator populations.results will guide the decision on whether to expand the hunting area and how to develop quotas for the new harvest zones, ensuring sustainable management of alligator populations in the refuge and its adjacent habitats. This research is supported by cooperative agreements focused on annual surveys and connectivity studies.