Hello Folks,

My name is Tiger Godwin. I have been a nuisance alligator control agent for the state of Florida for the past nine years. I have always been an avid hunter and fisherman.  Most of my hunting has been done using hounds, which brings me to how I became involved in trapping alligators.

In 1995, an alligator swallowed one of my Dad's champion  Walker hunting dogs named Flo-Joe.  Only the alligator didn't know that when he swallowed Flo-Joe he also swallowed the radar tracking collar that was around her neck (the tracking collar is used along with a hand-held device to locate the dogs so you don't lose them ).  After three days of searching for a signal on Flo-Joe, not knowing what happened, my Dad finally got a faint beep on the collar signaling that Flo-Joe was somewhere in the middle of Coldwater Swamp which is located in the Blackwater River State Forest and the closest road is about a half mile away. 

Determined as my dad was to find Flo-Joe, he and my brother, Gary, set off on foot following the signal into the swamp.  After walking several hundred yards and crossing a creek or two they came to a slough off the creek where they both agreed that the collar was under the water just off the bank. so thinking that Flo-Joe had drowned, one of them took a long limb to see if they could feel around under the water and maybe be able to drag Flo-Joe to the bank or at least retrieve the 125 dollar collar that was there. but when they stuck that limb in the water the entire slough exploded and they knew right away what they were dealing with.

They came home telling me about the matter and we called the Florida wildlife commission who then sent a couple of nuisance alligator trappers (David Smith and Lonnie Stone) to our rescue. after the trappers captured the 12 ft. reptile (see the picture to the left) which is another story in itself, I took an interest in alligators.

after a few years David and Lonnie decided to retire from trapping gators so I took over and have been trapping gators ever since.

         Click Here to read the Gainesville Sun article about Flo-Joe.

        Click here to see the innovative way a math teacher from Springfield, IL used Flo-Joe's story to motivate   her students.   

If you've never been on a boat in the middle of the night holding on to a line that is attached to a reptile with so much strength you won't believe your eyes when you pull him in, tape him up, and put him in the boat ALIVE !  I encourage you to give us a call. I guarantee the excitement is awesome!

Thank you, Tiger Godwin

Have a question for Tiger?

No problem, simply fill in your questions, or comments in the space below, and hit the "Submit Questions" button and Tiger will get right back to you with the info or answers.

tiger@tntgators.com

Send mail to webmaster@tntgators.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2004 TNT Gator Trappers
Last modified: 06/21/08