bate and hatch those eggs under artificial conditions . Most alligator egg collectors fly ( some use helicopters , ultra-lights , motorized parachutes , etc .) to survey areas in which they are permitted to collect eggs ( in swamps , egg collectors usually identify nest locations from boats ). Upon nest identification , collectors mark nest locations using pvc , bamboo , flagging , gps or maps , visit nest locations ( usually by airboat ), open nests , and collect eggs . Nesting material is placed around eggs in storage containers ( trash cans , ice chests , plastic boxes , etc .). A storage container may contain several nests . Because alligator embryos attach to the tops of eggs , embryos will die if eggs are turned over . For this reason , the tops of eggs are usually marked so eggs are not accidentally turned over . Eggs are transported to incubators where the eggs are then transferred to numbered baskets . The numbering of baskets help provide necessary data concerning nest locations , egg numbers , and hatching rates . Baskets containing eggs are placed in incubators which provide optimum conditions for egg incubation . The incubators are heated to approximately 86-91 degrees Fahrenheit ( F ) and provide moisture to aid incubation . Approximately 65 days later , baskets are opened and the hatchlings are removed . A unique characteristic of alligators is sex determination through incubation temperatures . More males are produced when eggs are incubated at higher temperatures ( 90o F and above ). Conversely , more females are produced when eggs are incubated at lower temperatures ( 87o F and below ). Hatchlings are then transferred to raising facilities sometimes called grow-out pens .
Releases Into Wild and Farm Harvest Sizes
Farmers raise alligators until they reach approximately 3 ' to 5 ' in length . At this time , the farmer must return back to the wild what would have survived to the 3 ' to 5 ' size classes ( at 4 ' average length , 12 % of hatch ). La . Dept . of Wildlife and Fisheries personnel travel to these farms and must measure , mark , and identify the sex of every alligator before release . Alligator farmers and landowners / managers release the farm-raised alligators into the wild . Because of the numbered web tags and tail markings , a farm-released alligator can later be identified . The information gathered from these farm-released alligators such as growth , survival , and dispersal rates is used to monitor and promptly adjust any regulations when needed . Farm-raised alligators have faster growth rates than wild alligators due to continuous and optimum growing conditions ( food supply , air and water temperatures - wild alligators have approximately six months of growing conditions due to cooler temperatures in the late fall , winter , and early spring months ). Two advantages of releasing juvenile farm-raised alligators are alligators released have better chances of survival ( alligators released are 3 ' -5 ' and have better chances of survival than hatchlings 8 " -12 ") and alligators are produced every year ( if predators destroy nests or flooding occurs , no eggs would hatch and thus no recruitment to the population ). The remaining percentage not released into the wild can be sold by the farmer . The majority of farm alligators are harvested at the 3 ' - 4 ' size classes . Natural mortality in the wild suggests most alligators harvested by farmers would not have hatched / survived if left in the wild and would have been a loss of the resource . Between 1999 and 2008 , over 2.5 million ( average 251,529 per year ) alligators were harvested on farms in Louisiana and were valued at over $ 335 million ( average $ 33,557,612 per year ).
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