stomach. After evaluating this technique, we also found that there were times when

recovery of the stomach contents was incomplete. Some researchers did not evaluate the

effectiveness of the technique, and accepted Fitzgerald' s (1989) extensive evaluation of

the method (Barr 1994, 1997). However, by evaluating the technique I became

convinced in its effectiveness and was confident in using this technique to compare food

habits among lakes.

 The hose-Heimlich technique did cause minor irritations to the alligator's

esophagus and cardiac sphincter. Fitzgerald (1989) evaluated any ill effects due to the

hose-Heimlich technique and found that only minor irritations to the esophagus occurred.

He concluded that these were not long lasting effects. We also found some abrasions on

the alligator' s esophagus and cardiac sphincter, but believe that these were minor and

temporary. Animals kept in captivity and those recaptured all appeared normal after

receiving the hose-Heimlich technique (Fitzgerald 1989, Barr 1997).

 American alligators are a very abundant species of crocodilian and nine diet

studies obtained stomachs from harvested animals (Table 2-1). In addition to using the

hose-Heimlich technique to obtain stomach samples, I utilized stomachs from alligators

killed for other research. There was 100% reliability of obtaining all the stomach

contents when the alligators were killed. In addition, harvested alligators may be

preferable when investigating the diet of large alligators (i.e., > 290 cm TL). However,

there are non-lethal methods, such as the hose-Heimlich technique that offer a way to

reliably obtain the stomach contents from live alligators.

 There are some disadvantages to using the hose-Heimlich technique in an

alligator food habit studies. Fitzgerald (1989) identified the need for water under