There are no friendly alligators

By Chester Moore, Jr
The Port Arthur News

May 07, 2008 09:25 pm

— There are no friendly alligators.
   And there are no tame ones or nice ones or alligators that simply will not bother people.
    Alligators are large, potentially dangerous reptilian predators that are very common in Southeast Texas and that are very capable of killing people and their pets.
     I’m not writing this to scare you or cause you to have a negative opinion of alligators but facts are facts and sometimes they get glossed over when these amazing creatures come into contact with humans.
      Every year there are dozens of cases of well-intentioned local citizens feeding alligators at boat docks, at their favorite fishing holes and sometimes even in their own yards but what they are doing is setting either themselves and the alligators up for disaster.
     Alligators conditioned to accept food from people will be the ones most likely to approach them and they could possibly attack. Even if they do not, these alligators are often taken by nuisance gator control officers out of their natural area.
    These animals are by no means out to get people. If they were we would have hundreds of attacks a year but the potential is there especially during the spring and early summer.
    We are in the midst of alligator mating season and this is the time when encountering the really big alligators is most likely.
    “Springtime is when alligators are most active,” said Monique Slaughter, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologist who helps run the state alligator program at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area in Port Arthur.
    “Courtship and mating begins in late spring and continues through early summer. April through July are peak months for nuisance gator calls.”
     TPWD officials recommend the following for dealing with alligators.
    # Don’t kill, harass, molest or attempt to move alligators. State law prohibits such actions, and the potential for being bitten or injured by a provoked alligator is high.
    # Do call your TPWD regional office if you encounter a nuisance gator that has lost its fear of people.
    # Don’t allow small children to play by themselves in or around water.
    # Do closely supervise children when playing in or around water.
    # Don’t swim at night or during dusk or dawn when alligators most actively feed.
    # Do use ordinary common care. Swim only during daylight hours.
    # Don’t feed or entice alligators. Alligators overcome their natural shyness and become accustomed or attracted to humans when fed. It is now a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500, to intentionally feed an alligator.
    # Do inform others that feeding alligators creates problems for others who want to use the water for recreational purposes.
   # Don’t throw fish scraps into the water or leave them on shore. Although you are not intentionally feeding alligators, the end result can be the same.
    # Do dispose of fish scraps in garbage cans at most boat ramps or fish camps.
    # Don’t remove any alligators from their natural habitat or accept one as a pet. It is a violation of state law to do so. Alligators do not become tame in captivity and handling even small ones may result in bites. In particular, never go near baby alligators or pick them up. They may seem cute and harmless, but mama alligator will be nearby, and will protect her clutch for at least two years.
    # Do enjoy viewing and photographing wild alligators from a safe distance of at least 30 feet or more. Remember that they're an important part of Texas's natural history, as well as an integral component of many wetland ecosystems.
      TPWD officials said nuisance alligators may be reported to the TPWD law enforcement communications center for Southeast Texas in La Porte at 281-842-8100.