Mississippi could soon be getting an alligator hunting season.

Ricky Flint, a conservation biologist with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, says he is about ready to recommend an alligator hunting season in the state to his boss, who heads the MDWFP. Flint is the Alligator Program Leader for the agency, but he makes it clear legislative approval would be required to change the law that now makes alligator hunting illegal, except for about 20 licensed trappers.

He estimates there are some 3,000 alligators around the Ross Barnett Reservoir and on the upper Pearl River above it. He urges all people who are having a problem with an alligator to call his agency and they will come out and deal with it. He warns the public that is against the law to kill or feed an alligator.

Other southern states like Georgia, Florida and Louisiana have alligator hunting seasons. He says a very large alligator in Lake Hico in Jackson probably grew to his size because of the warm water in the Entergy-warmed lake, which is used to cool the Rex I. Brown steam generating station adjacent to it.