Another Gator found ? (Dallas, Fort Worth, Lewisville: live, beach, swimming)

[Im Lost]

Have a look at the video in the link....

Gator spotted in Lewisville Lake | wfaa.com Dallas - Fort Worth

I consider myself kind of a wildlife guy and I'll say, neither those tracks on the Lake Beach nor does the video look like a Gator. (Looks like a muskrat to me) But, then again, I am sure the people taking the video could see what it was much better than I can from that video.

What do you think ?

I live on the lake and have never seen a Gator, although I am aware a dead 10 ft gator was found here on the lake a few years back, so there might be a small population here, but I don't think that video was one.

BTW, anybody know where on the lake that video was taken ?

[Made_it_To_the_Metroplex]

Seems the DFW is a bit arid for gators, IMO. Not that it is arid in an absolute sense, but relatively so, for water-based reptiles/amphibians.

[escanlan]

Although not very common alligators are part of the North Texas wildlife.

Planning & Development, Dallas County, Texas
Dallas Trinity Trails: Trinity River Alligators

This is a Texas Parks and Wildlife link that displays the hunting rules, range of the Gator, and even how to skin and cook one.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publicat...w7000_1011.pdf

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by Im Lost

Have a look at the video in the link....

Gator spotted in Lewisville Lake | wfaa.com Dallas - Fort Worth

I consider myself kind of a wildlife guy and I'll say, neither those tracks on the Lake Beach nor does the video look like a Gator. (Looks like a muskrat to me) But, then again, I am sure the people taking the video could see what it was much better than I can from that video.

What do you think ?

I live on the lake and have never seen a Gator, although I am aware a dead 10 ft gator was found here on the lake a few years back, so there might be a small population here, but I don't think that video was one.

BTW, anybody know where on the lake that video was taken ?

I can't tell from the video either, but they are native to our area, though not in the numbers that you would see southeast of here.

[SVTRay]

I've seen a few Gators swimming around in lakes (outside Texas) and that really does look like Gator treading water to me.

[TX75007]

In the 19th century gators up to 20 feet long were regularly taken in the Red River in North Texas. We also used to have very large jaguars (300lbs), wolves, elk, buffalo, bears, mule deer, pronghorns, etc.

Many of these are or will make a comeback.

Gators are capstone aquatic predators and are necessary for a healthy rivers. Once they get established, there will be massive and beneficial ecological changes in the rivers they are in.

[Made_it_To_the_Metroplex]

Originally Posted by TX75007

In the 19th century gators up to 20 feet long were regularly taken in the Red River in North Texas. We also used to have very large jaguars (300lbs), wolves, elk, buffalo, bears, mule deer, pronghorns, etc.

Many of these are or will make a comeback.

Gators are capstone aquatic predators and are necessary for a healthy rivers. Once they get established, there will be massive and beneficial ecological changes in the rivers they are in.

VERY interesting. Thanks!

[MargaretPMcCord]

Originally Posted by TX75007

In the 19th century gators up to 20 feet long were regularly taken in the Red River in North Texas. We also used to have very large jaguars (300lbs), wolves, elk, buffalo, bears, mule deer, pronghorns, etc.

Many of these are or will make a comeback.

Gators are capstone aquatic predators and are necessary for a healthy rivers. Once they get established, there will be massive and beneficial ecological changes in the rivers they are in.

Cool... That is turly a valuable information, I do hope theses animals will be back in our area, (though i would pefer the wild ones in the wild)

[Im Lost]

There were no 20 ft alligators taken anywhere. (They do not exist)...... but close... back in 1890 there is a rumored 19 feet, 2 inch Alligator taken in Lousiana, which if true, is the world record by several feet over the 2nd place Gator.

When you get to 13-14 ft, you have an exceptionally large one. The Tx state record is 14.5 feet.

Yes, there are Alligators stretching up North here, we know of a population just due west of Ft Worth in those lakes. I am not inquiring as to if small alligator populations exist in N. Texas, they do without a doubt. What I am interested in, has anybody seen them in Lewisville Lake ? (My interest is due to the fact I live on the lake)

Thanks

[SVTRay]

Originally Posted by TX75007

In the 19th century gators up to 20 feet long were regularly taken in the Red River in North Texas. We also used to have very large jaguars (300lbs), wolves, elk, buffalo, bears, mule deer, pronghorns, etc.

Many of these are or will make a comeback.

Gators are capstone aquatic predators and are necessary for a healthy rivers. Once they get established, there will be massive and beneficial ecological changes in the rivers they are in.

Agreed, Alligators are called "Ecosystem Engineers." The reason is they modify the availability of resources to other creators by physically changing the environment...aka Gator Holes. These holes come in real handy for rih, snakes, turtles etc during. Drought since they hold water for longer periods.

Now with that said, having animals, Reptiles of this nature so close to people is naturally going to cause problems and should be relocated as well as regulated.