Alligators - fresh water - how far from Houston? (Sugar Land: college, to live in)

[citizen_jane]

Whatever you do, do not start feeding it! Troubles start when gators lose their fear of people or when they associate people with food. Growing up in Tampa (in the 70's) our house was beside a canal. Just about every body of water in Florida has a gator in it. Our gator started out as a baby and the local kids started feeding it marshmallows (not me of course!) . When it was full grow it had no fear of people and it had to be taken away.

When I was at UF our crew team rowed on the lake where animal control dumped "nuisance" and aggressive gators. We saw HUGE gators, constantly. We had no dock so we waited into the water to get into the boats and yet we all lived and no one lost any limbs.

[R3triever]

I fully agree....but I think it is too late. Last May when I saw him I went down to the dock...it came straight for me...not agressive, just in way, I think he was already accustomed to being fed by humans. He stayed in our canal for over a week. What was really creepy...as soon as he heard kids, boats, dogs, he'd just sink and disappear and then re-surface in another section of the canal. You can be sure, my two Goldens will never ever swim in there again! Here's a pic of him!

[southeasttexas]

Originally Posted by tstone

Actually, no surprise there haven't been any attacks there. Alligators are generally timid towards humans, unless you're messing with a nest or babies - then again, what animal wouldn't attack in that situation?

Crocodiles on the other hand, different story altogether when it comes to random attacks on humans... and fortunately there are none around here.

Stone is right. Gators are generally scared of humans, believe it or not. I have swam in bayous a number of times, with gators just 20-30 feet away, and never had a problem. Just don't pester them. In fact, they scatter and move away most times. OF COURSE, I would never condone children getting around them like that!

Gators will easily go 100 miles or more inland off the Texas gulf coast. I have seen them up in the woods, too.

[jd433]

[i] had been watching a couple in George Bush Park along the Buffalo Bayou lately but the other day I saw one of the dead floting upside down with it's legs cut off and a string tied around it. I was very mad because me being from Phoenix I thought of them as a novelty.

I don't think of alligators as a menace. Do people see them as a problem? if so why? also are they considered game? Is it legal to kill one in a park like George Bush Park?

[R3triever]

Originally Posted by jd433

[i] had been watching a couple in George Bush Park along the Buffalo Bayou lately but the other day I saw one of the dead floting upside down with it's legs cut off and a string tied around it. I was very mad because me being from Phoenix I thought of them as a novelty.

I don't think of alligators as a menace. Do people see them as a problem? if so why? also are they considered game? Is it legal to kill one in a park like George Bush Park?

How very sad They do make me nervous with all the kids and pets around...but I sure don't want to see them killed. I spoke with a friend of mine who works for the police dept. here in town and unless the gator is acting aggressivly and being a nuisance, they won't send WildLife, Fish and Game out. Even then, I was told they would try to relocate it, rather than kill it.

[desertsun41]

I have a Gator at my dock on Lake Livingston. I just layed on my belly and watched him for a long time. He never made any aggressive move towards me. I guess he was about 3' long which I suppose is small.

On weekends there are lots of people swimming right next to the dock but I think the Gator moves on when people are around. I also bet most those people have no idea a Gator hangs out there.

One neighbor said there is a whole family of them living under the bridge inside Cape Royale.

I like watching him. I find him fasinating.

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

Ok, you must think I'm nuts, but this is an issue in Florida. With suburbs going further out and the prevalence of canals, small lakes, these toothy ba$tard$ are in fact there...and every once in a while, there are run-ins with humans. (There's a current thread under "Florida.")

Now, I've seen the map of the alligator population and it does extend to Texas. Also, Houston is called The Bayou City.

That being said, how far does one have to go from Houston metro before alligators in small bodies of fresh water become sort of a "given?" Or, in fresh water, such as creeks and lakes, are they removed and relocated as the population starts to encroach into the hinterlands?

Originally Posted by R3triever

How very sad They do make me nervous with all the kids and pets around...but I sure don't want to see them killed. I spoke with a friend of mine who works for the police dept. here in town and unless the gator is acting aggressivly and being a nuisance, they won't send WildLife, Fish and Game out. Even then, I was told they would try to relocate it, rather than kill it.

R3triever, in the case you refer to, it is sad. That was obviously not handled well. However, I lived in Florida, on a canal no less, and robertpolyglot's question is a very valid one. Florida decided that they didn't want to kill gators anymore, and the population got way out of control. Now the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission allows for hunting. Per their website, they receive over 18,000 calls per year for what they call "nuisance" alligators (setting up shop in someone's yard or pond, threatening livestock, pets, or humans) and almost half of those are removed (they are not "relocated", btw, they are killed).

I have lived in Houston, in various parts, almost my entire life. As a kid, I grew up on a creek and spent summers with my best friend's family boating on Lakes Conroe and Houston. I have never seen an alligator, wild, in Houston. I don't doubt people have, there's no disputing that they are here--but it is definitely not like Florida at all in that respect.

[latetotheparty]

Originally Posted by jd433

[i] had been watching a couple in George Bush Park along the Buffalo Bayou lately but the other day I saw one of the dead floting upside down with it's legs cut off and a string tied around it. I was very mad because me being from Phoenix I thought of them as a novelty.

I don't think of alligators as a menace. Do people see them as a problem? if so why? also are they considered game? Is it legal to kill one in a park like George Bush Park?

[ClrlakeTx76]

During the past few years (in the Summer months), I have been seeing more and more "baby" alligators in the South Shore Harbour Marina water. Just this past summer, a neighbor pulled out a 12 footer. As others mentioned, jet skiiers and swimmers frequent these waters... creepy.

[Huckleberry3911948]

they are in houston lake. houston now has got 2 legged alligators too since katrina.