Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Looking Back at Five Years of Alligator Spotlight Surveys by Alicia Wassmer, Alligator Biologist; Liz Scarlett, Alligator Conservation Technician
A lligator spotlight surveys have been conducted between May 1st to June 15th each year since 2021. The objective of these surveys is to detect alli- gator population trends in the 10 Alligator Manage- ment Unit 1 counties: Columbus, Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Jones, Carteret, Craven, Pamlico, and Hyde. These boat-based surveys, con- ducted in publicly accessible waterways, include 2 routes per county. The goal is to survey each route on two consecutive nights for a total of 40 survey nights per season. This year, 42 staff from Wildlife Manage- ment, Land & Water Access, and Law Enforcement divisions participated in these surveys. Staff per- formed vital roles such as boat driver, surveyor, and/ or data recorder. Additionally, two volunteers from UNCW joined surveys in Jones and Craven counties. This tremendous survey process could not be com- pleted without significant collaboration across divi- sions. Wildlife Diversity staff heartily thank all NCWRC staff and supervisors who conducted alliga- tor spotlight surveys in the field and assisted with scheduling, resource coordination, and safety coordi- nation from the office!
LIZ SCARLETT/NCWRC
Driving to the survey start point on Bear Creek in 2022.
Chart A. Alligator Spotlight Survey Participants Wildlife Management Law Enforcement Land & Water Access Inland Fisheries External Volunteers Alligator Spotlight Survey Participants
25
Chart B. Alligator Spotlight Survey Participant Nights (2021-2025) Alligator Spotlight Survey Participant Nights (2021-2025)
20
External Volunteers 13
Inland Fisheries 2
15
Land & Water Access 111
10
Wildlife Management 250
5
Law Enforcement 144
0
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
The total number of Participant Survey Nights from 2021 to 2025. To date, staff have contributed to 507 Survey Nights. There have also been 13 external volunteer Participant Survey Nights for alligator spotlight surveys to date.
The number of individual participants from each division from 2021–2025. Staff participation ranged from a minimum of 1 survey night to a maximum of 14 survey nights within a single season. The median number of survey nights that staff con- ducted was 2.
6
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