LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas – It required four alligator handlers to remove a particularly “friendly” giant from Champion Lake — and as it turned out, the animal set a record for being the largest live gator ever caught in Texas, wildlife officials said Wednesday.
The 13-foot 8-inch alligator was taken ashore, tied up, and is now set to spend the rest of its life at Gator Country, near Beaumont.
Photos: State-record alligator removed from Champion Lake
Although wildlife officials said Anahuac is known as the state’s gator capital, many alligators can be found in the backwater areas of southeast Texas, especially Champion Lake, which is in the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, about 10 miles south of Dayton.
The Refuge, as it’s called, sprawls north and south in Liberty County.
“We were aware of the (giant alligator), but did not feel the need to do anything about it until it became a little too ‘friendly,’” Refuge manager Stuart Marcus said. “We were receiving comments and video of alligators approaching the shoreline when people walked up to crab, fish or take photos. While the animal had not aggressively attacked anyone yet, it was considered a little too close for comfort. People may not even have been aware of what was in the water lurking, waiting for a free meal.”
It’s not considered normal for alligators to approach people, officials said. But because the gator had been fed by Refuge visitors, and stolen chicken parts off crab lines, the animal had lost his fear of humans, according to wildlife experts.
That made the gator dangerous, and had officials on high alert, wanting to use extreme caution in dealing with the situation.
But options in this case were limited, experts said. Relocation would be a challenge, and officials didn’t want the animal to become a problem elsewhere.
Staff members at the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge contacted the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, hoping to move the gator to Gator Country — an education center dedicated to rescue efforts.
State officials agreed to catch the animal and transport it out of the Refuge. A large piece of chicken lured the gator nearly onshore, and that’s when the handlers wrangled the animal.
Experts reminded people, it’s against the law to feed alligators, and you could be fined for doing so. Crabbing attracts the gators especially, so fishermen are asked to take their lines and bait with them as they leave. Leftover bait can be a huge problem.