A Polk County alligator encounter ended in an arrest this week after wildlife officers say a man opened fire on the animal near Bartow. The suspect, identified in court as 52-year-old Keith Allen Fannin, is charged with illegally killing an alligator and was ordered held on a $5,000 bond.
According to 10 Tampa Bay, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers responded after Bartow police reported the incident. Investigators say Fannin admitted to firing a handgun at the alligator multiple times. The outlet reported that he appeared in court Thursday and was released on a $5,000 bond. Local authorities say the case reflects standard enforcement of state wildlife rules in populated areas.
What the law says
Florida statute 379.409 makes it illegal to intentionally kill or capture an alligator unless authorized by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The law treats that conduct as a Level Four violation and allows for fines, license suspension, and confiscation of equipment upon conviction. It also authorizes the commission to seize gear used in the offense, including weapons and vehicles, which prosecutors may pursue in court, according to the Florida Legislature.
FWC response
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told 10 Tampa Bay, "The FWC takes wildlife violations seriously. FWC officers remain committed to enforcing laws designed to safeguard Florida’s fish and wildlife resources for future generations." The agency's comment, as published by the station, underscored the need for residents to rely on official channels instead of taking matters into their own hands.
How removals usually work
In most neighborhoods, unwanted gators are handled through the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program, or SNAP. The program contracts licensed trappers to remove alligators that pose a threat, and local reporting notes SNAP fields thousands of calls a year and pays trappers a stipend per capture. That system is a big reason FWC advises residents not to confront or kill wild alligators themselves.
Fannin remains charged with illegally killing an alligator and is due back in court on the case. Anyone with information about the incident can call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC or submit a tip online at MyFWC.com/WildlifeAlert.
