While you may not think of alligators and Texas in the same sentence, did you know that Texas is home to several alligator-infested lakes? As a result, you can find alligators in several locations in Texas. How Many Alligators Live in Texas? WebAlligators can be found in almost any body of water in the state of Texas. So, kids wouldn'treally mess with him for a couple hours. The real problem, of course, comes from the alligator that you dont see, Ross said. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Alligators have a natural fear of humans and usually begin a quick retreat when approached by people. Amateur alligator hunter Jeremy Moore described the moment he,his dad and two young sons spotted a huge gator on a family friend's property in the Gray community of Marion County, Texas along Caddo Lake. If you see an alligator in the roadway, DO NOT attempt to move it! When hatched, these baby alligators are only 8-9 inches in length. BELL COUNTY, Texas A Facebook image of an alligator on Stillhouse Hollow Lake has left some people wondering what alligators are doing in Bell County. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The nearest crocodile is the American crocodile in far south Florida and hes almost extinct. Out of the 254 counties in Texas, 120 counties have had reports of Alligators. So all that being said, just watch where you swim, boat or fish. I have been keeping reptiles as pets for over 20 years, and I have also worked with reptiles in zoos and nature centers. The American alligator is common in swamps, rivers, bayous, and marshes of the southern U.S., including the eastern third of Texas. Kayaking, on the other hand, is a fun and safe activity that requires some precautions. Thank you very much. Alligators can also be found at Caddo Lake, Eagle Mountain Lake, Grapevine Lake, Lake Tawakoni, Lewisville Lake, and others. Nope. Alligators are found in the southeastern United States, in bodies of water such as swamps, marshes, and rivers. alligators have been reported in creeks and lakes. Northwest Louisiana falls in the west zone, where gator hunting season begins the first Wednesday in September and continues for 30-days. Alligators in Texas are mostly inactive from mid-October until early March, when they brumate. Bell County lakes are also a safe place for alligators to live. It is not that you will find alligators at literally any lake in Austin, Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife says it happens a couple times a year, and they can only survive in saltwater for a few hours maybe up to a few days. If theres been a recent sighting in an area you swim, avoid that spot for a few days to give the alligator time to move. Instead, Warner said an alligator sighting should be a rare treat for a person in Central Texas and you will likely only catch a glimpse before they get away. You might know em as water moccasins. 31 beaches were potentially unsafe on at least 25% of the days they were tested. E-Newsletter Archive. Believe it or not, Texas is home to several alligator-infested lakes. I mean, Texans love to eat catfish, so naturally turnabout is fair play, right? "We opened the gate to go in and he wasn't even in the water. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The report called Safe For Swimming tested 61 Texas beaches in 2020 for fecal matter and found that 55 were potentially unsafe for swimming on at least one day. On Tuesday, the Lower Colorado River Authority got a call from a fisherman that a 3-4 alligator had been found just a few feet. Photos included in the images above show Animal Services staff in attendance at an alligator safety training class. Kayaking in areas where alligators are native, such as in Florida, can raise the risk of an alligator attack. Curious , Do lakes in Texas have alligators? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. If you hear an alligator hiss, it's a warning that you are too close. Lake Worth lies along the The last relevant report of an alligator living in Lake Lewisville was in 2015. The 9 Latest Answer, What Will Be The Best Source Of Your Information In Order To Give The Best Data For Your Feasibility Study? While typically found in fresh-water, they can tolerate brackish water as well. Hes why I do not waterski to this day. In Texas, the American alligator ranges from the Sabine River of East Texas to the Gulf of Mexico across the coastal marshes to the Rio Grande and west to around Interstate 35. Alligators are native to the North Texas area and live in various freshwater lakes and rivers, including Lake Worth, Eagle Mountain Lake and the Trinity River. The 9 Latest Answer. They had to use a tractor and front-end loader and laid the alligator on a 24-foot trailer to skin and butcher it. (North Texas Lake). Do all lakes in Texas have alligators? You are in their territory. However, they do not bite that much. In Florida, for example, the alligator capital of the states, there were only around two dozen deaths recorded between 1948 and 2021. It goes till Interstate 35 westward. Alligators are known to occupy marshes, lakes, ponds, rivers, swamps, and wetland areas. Texas Roadhouse A Legendary Steak Restaurant. King's video shows the gator moving calmly in the water, in both videos the gator seems to just be floating on the current nearly motionless. There are no alligators in Austin, Texas. There was one caught in a lake in Las Colinas awhile back and he was a big one. Texas Farm and Ranch Land Conservation Program, Alligators in Texas: Rules, Regulations and General Information, Distribution and Growth of American Alligators in a Texas Coastal Marsh, Population Parameters of American Alligators in the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area. How to Make Baked Potatoes Like Texas Roadhouse? Then, you cansend in for an alligator tag afterwards, by mailing in a form to the Texas Parks and Wildlife office in Austin. ", According to Moore, the gator measured 13feet 2inches and weighed 900pounds. With 1.3 million alligators, it has the largest population in the nation. In Texas, the last fatal attack that went documented occurred in 1836 when an alligator killed a man swimming across the The alligator is an interesting creature and provides valuable services by keeping invasive species out of waterways. This means that once a year or every two years they are sighted because of the fact that there are not many alligators on If you are afraid of coming into contact with an alligator at one of these lakes, do not be. Hopefully, these incidents will assist guests in learning how to stay safe around alligators. Louisiana has the highest alligator population, currently approaching 2 million. In Louisiana, alligators are most common in coastal marshes. The closest population of saltwater crocodiles is in Florida, which is over 1,000 miles away. A female alligator attacked a 4-year-old boy at the Disney MGM Resort in 1992. They are actually quite rare to find. They may also occasionally be found in brackish waters but are highly sensitive to salinity due to lacking particular glands. Thats right, there are at least four lakes in Texas that are hot spots for alligators including Lake Lewisville, one of the largest lakes in all of Texas. In my free time, I like to watch documentaries and explore nature. Texas Parks & Wildlife says March 1 through May 30 is the peak time for alligator breeding and nesting. The American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, once on the verge of extinction, has made a tremendous come-back over the past 30 years. This year has already seen a total of four such deaths. Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. "Chances are, if there is one in the area, you are not going to see it because it wants nothing to do with you," Warner said. Alligators emerge from brumation in March. Lake Lewisville is one of the top freshwater recreation areas in Texas. Texas has some wildlife in its waters that no one wants to mess with. In the end, the alligator was killed and the boy was uninjured. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Dont put your body parts where they shouldnt be. In June 2016, a man was attacked and killed by an alligator while swimming in a river in Brazoria County. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Texas is home to several alligator-infested lakes? Gars live in lakes, bayous and bays. The alligator is an interesting creature and provides valuable services by keeping invasive species out of waterways. This species can also tolerate brackish water, but it is most commonly found in fresh water. The images have attracted a lot of attention on social media. You probably know that we have alligators in Texas. Notify local authorities so the alligator can be handled safely. However, there are a few basic procedures. Reference source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. "As long as the alligator is not being approached or harassed or fed.". There has been an alligator attack in Del Valle, Texas. Most of them are in the eastern part of the state. Since alligators spend most of their time sunbathing on the shores, there are often telltale signs of their presence. Its not easy tracking how many alligators live in an area, especially an area as large as Texas. The 9 Latest Answer, Kingwood Service Association officials say. Overall, there are roughly 500,000 alligators in the entire state. It is not known to be dangerous to people, but I figure as big as these critters get (up to 300 pounds), I find it best not to tempt them. You can find American alligators in the Sabine River East of Texas, down past the coastal marshes in the Gulf of Mexico. From swimming to boating and fishing to camping, theres no end to the adventures at Lake Lewisville. People who noticed the gator took pictures and videos with their phones. It has a large, long head with visible upper teeth along the edge of the jaws. If you see an alligator in the water, call the Alligator Management Unit at 1-888-434-6540. 10 Best Family Camping in Texas: Your Next Family Adventure, How to Find a Deer Lease in Texas? Before visiting, just make sure to learn the proper precautions if you happen to stumble across an alligator. These are alligators that are over four feet long and have lost their fear of humans. Alligators are found in or near water. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The most dangerous type of alligator is the nuisance alligator. Here are some of the lakes that have gators: Lake Lewisville a great spot for wildlife activities; there are about a few dozen gators here. So its possible that there is a 300-pound gator gar in the Trinity River and hes waiting for me. Alligators do live on that lake, but it is illegal to kill them. 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