WASHINGTON, D.C. – During consideration of the FY 2007 Interior Appropriations bill, Representative Adam H. Putnam (R-FL 12) received assurances that the Committee would work with him to develop practical solutions to address the increased number of alligator attacks on humans.

"In just the last week, there have been numerous alligator attacks resulting in 3 human deaths in the State of Florida. But Florida is not the only state to deal with this terrifying problem; citizens across Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas have all been victims of alligator attacks, sometimes deadly, over the years," stated Putnam, who serves as the Chairman of the House Policy Committee. "Support for nuisance alligator programs will help provide the critical resources states need to respond and remove these alligators, as well as educate the public on prevention of alligator attacks."

Putnam offered an amendment to transfer $500,000 to provide additional funding to states through the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants to hire trappers and expand alligator trapment activities. The amendment was intended to raise awareness of the problem posed by alligators in populated areas.

"The number of alligator complaints received by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) continues to grow – last year they received more than 16,000 complaints which resulted in the removal of over 8,000 alligators across the state. Unfortunately, with 3 deaths in a week, current efforts are proving insufficient to stop alligator attacks," Putnam concluded. "I will continue to work with federal and state authorities on a variety of fronts to deal with this dangerous trend."

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