Congressman Greg Steube (R-Fla.) introduced a bill mandating research on the impact of federal species categories on state wildlife agencies' ability to remove invasive alligators from waterways near populated areas.
The Gathering Alligator Treatment, Oversight, and Response (GATOR) Act of 2026 orders the Comptroller General and the Department of the Interior (DOI), and relevant state wildlife agencies to “carry out a study regarding the effect of the treatment” of reptiles under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
The bill aims to discover whether the federal listing of American alligators, common caiman, and brown caiman as “threatened due to similarity of appearance” to the American crocodile has “unintentionally slowed the removal of nuisance alligators and invasive caimans from areas where they pose a risk to people, pets, and property.”
Steube's Calls For Safety Amid Recent Alligator Death
“Florida families deserve to protect their children and pets in their own backyards,” Rep. Steube stated.
“The American alligator is an apex predator, and it’s been fully recovered since 1987. Federal look-alike rules meant to stop trafficking remain in place, but they may be discouraging Floridians from using our state’s nuisance alligator program,” the Bradenton Republican affirmed.
Congressman Steube’s bill comes in response to the death of a 31-year-old Woman from Oviedo, Florida, who unfortunately passed away after being attacked by a 13-foot alligator near her home.
Fish And Wildlife's Reclassifications
In 1987, the DOI’s Fish and Wildlife Service reclassified the American Alligator “based on evidence that the species is no longer biologically endangered or threatened.”
In 2000, the Fish and Wildlife Service also reclassified the common caiman and the brown caiman to protect the reptiles from commercial trade.
The classification of “Threatened due to similarity of appearance” is meant to facilitate wildlife inspections of shipments at ports of entry and detect illegal shipments of the wildlife.
According to Rep. Steube, “the GATOR Act simply studies whether these federal trade enforcements have influenced the way states manage nuisance gators or the way residents report them.”
