Photo Credit: By Norbert Nagel, Mörfelden-Walldorf, Germany via Wikimedia Commons

Florida, with its warm and subtropical climate, has attracted over 18 million inhabitants over the years. But that's not the only thing it harbors - nearly 1.3 million alligators consider the sunny Southern state their home as well.

Their presence usually wouldn't bother Floridians, but due to recent climate changes and dwindling water sources, the dinosauric creatures have started to appear in homes, parking lots, and other public areas. Their intrusions call for people like Julie Harter, Todd Hardwick, and 38 others - the 40 licensed gator trappers of Florida state.

Gator trapping isn't for the faint of heart. Licensed trappers are summoned on a daily basis to risk their lives catching gators and relocating them far from human contact. Their job is dangerous, tedious, and most importantly, cannot be botched.

There are several indispensable steps to successfully trapping such a creature. First, the trapper must select a bait (the most common is beef lung) and lure the gator towards him. Next, he must dangle a rope just above the gator's head, and when the time is right, lasso it around its neck. By this period, the gator has typically ceased all fighting and is relatively cooperative.

Photo Credit: By Ianaré Sévi - commons.wikimedia.org

Then, the gator trapper must sit on the reptile as if on a horse, tie its mouth shut (to prevent biting), and cover its eyes with a towel (to keep the gator from seeing, making it more vulnerable and defenseless).

Afterward, the trapper, with the help of a few strong adults, must move the thousand-pound gator into a truck that will transport it away from humans. Oh, and then, they get to move on to their next trapping assignment.

The fate of the captured gator depends on its size. A large one, over six feet, must be killed, for it is simply too big a threat to nature. A medium one, four to six feet long, is transported elsewhere and left to live. A small one, three to four feet long, is typically left alone.

Contrary to their actions, gator trappers are generally huge gator fans. They are big on lecturing people who report gator intrusions on how the reptiles are not the invasive species, but rather we humans are. After all, Gators have existed since prehistoric times, when dinosaurs were roaming the Earth - And well, we . . . Weren't!

By doing what they do, gator trappers are protecting both the animals and us. They annually prevent hundreds of possible attacks. Sound fun to you? Then you need to head to Florida - the only state that has the use for this profession.

sources: ecofloridamag.com, wikipedia.org, lasvegassun.com