She's a Grandma and an Alligator Trapper

See how the Florida woman catches gators — at least 200 a year

by Brandon Gobel, photos by Timothy Fadek, AARP, March 2, 2018

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PHOTO BY: Timothy Fadek/Redux

Meet Julie Harter

She's a grandmother, schoolteacher — and alligator trapper! She catches at least 200 gators a year.
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PHOTO BY: Timothy Fadek/Redux

To the rescue

The 55-year-old responds to wherever she's needed. Here, in Lakeland, Fla., she hauls away an alligator that had been living in a community pond.
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PHOTO BY: Timothy Fadek/Redux

A rarity

She is one of just a few dozen nuisance trappers licensed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Their job: respond when any of the state's estimated 1.3 million gators pose a threat.
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PHOTO BY: Timothy Fadek/Redux

Trapping

Every day is a new day for "Lady Gator Trapper," as some call her. Here she is setting bait on a hook to trap an alligator.
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PHOTO BY: Timothy Fadek/Redux

Spotting

Days after setting an alligator trap, Harter returns and uses binoculars to determine if an alligator took the bait.
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PHOTO BY: Timothy Fadek/Redux

Catching

The grandmother of six clearly isn't afraid! Harter's late husband trained her. He was a licensed trapper until 2003, when he died in a helicopter crash. She then took over his territory.
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PHOTO BY: Timothy Fadek/Redux

Teaching

Now to a much different setting: Harter in her classroom at the Pepin Academy, where she teaches high school students with learning disabilities.
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PHOTO BY: Timothy Fadek/Redux

Having fun

And when not at school or trapping alligators, Harter enjoys spending time at the bowling alley.
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PHOTO BY: Timothy Fadek/Redux

Keeping the gators

The state doesn't pay Harter to do the job, but she gets to keep the alligators and any money she makes from selling them for meat and hide.