The following notes were compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife law enforcement reports and published in a release. Here are some of the wildest reports from June 2020:
On the Fence
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A Colorado County game warden received a call of a large alligator that had climbed the fence of a residential home and made itself comfortable in the backyard. The game warden, along with a DPS Trooper, were able to capture and relocate the alligator to a safe place outside of town.
Bare Necessities
While patrolling near Lake Sam Rayburn, a Sabine County game warden noticed a naked man running across the road from the water into a makeshift tent. The man soon emerged wearing an oversized pair of pants. The warden then contacted dispatch, who advised that the subject was wanted on three felony warrants out of Sabine County. The man’s actions and demeanor led the warden to ask a female subject with the man for consent to search their vehicle but was denied. A canine officer was called and upon arriving to the scene quickly alerted to the presence of narcotics. Meth, along with the man’s wallet, was located inside a pair of pants in a bookbag found in the bed of the truck. He was arrested and taken to Sabine County Jail. The case is pending.
Having a Baaaad Day
Game wardens were conducting water safety patrols of Lake Amistad when they encountered a baby goat in the water near shore. The goat had fallen into the lake and due to a broken leg was unable to get back out. The game wardens found the goat in the nick of time and saved it from potential starvation or drowning.
Grin and Bear It
A Titus County game warden and a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist responded to a call about a black bear that had been photographed from a homeowner’s back porch. This was one of five bears that had been photographed in the northeast Texas region this season alone.
Whiskey River
While patrolling the Neches River, a Hardin County game warden stopped a small aluminum boat for not displaying navigation lights. Three men were in the boat, one of whom was passed out on the floor of the boat. The warden performed a water safety inspection and in addition to there not being enough life jackets on board, the warden found beer cans and whiskey bottles strewn about the boat. The boat’s operator admitted that he had consumed several beers, and had taken a couple of shots of whiskey, prior to operating the boat. The warden conducted a standard field sobriety test once the subject was on shore. The man operating the boat was placed under arrest for Boating While Intoxicated and then booked into the Harden County Jail. His case is pending.
Up to the Gills in Trouble
After observing signs of possible illegal gill netting activities along the Nueces River, game wardens patrolled the area for two days before observing two men launching a small paddle boat into the river. The men had no fishing poles but instead had two large buckets with lids. The wardens walked the shoreline, following the boat for over a mile, obtaining video of the individuals actively gill netting from the concealment of brush. The men attempted to hide the gill nets in the buckets upriver, prior to loading up the boat. Once the boat was loaded, one of the subjects returned to retrieve the buckets. Wardens contacted the men and found 200 yards of gill net along with six large alligator gar. The boat and illegal fishing devices were seized. Multiple cases were filed including Over the Daily Bag Limit on alligator gar, Illegal Means and Methods and Insufficient Number of PFDs. One of the men had been caught by wardens before for the same violations.
Guard Gator
In Cameron County, game wardens received a call regarding an alligator that was roaming around inside a detention center facility. A facility staff member had reportedly stepped on its tail while exiting his vehicle in the parking lot. With the assistance of the facility staff, the wardens were able to safely relocate the almost 11-foot-long alligator.