Everything’s bigger in Texas, including apparently its alligators. When the largest gator ever captured alive in Texas was relocated to a wildlife sanctuary recently, officials asked the public’s help to name the massive beast. Being Texas, it just had to be Big Tex.
The 13 foot 8 inch gator will live out the remainder of its life at Gator Country, a wild animal sanctuary in southeast Texas after it was becoming somewhat of a nuisance to local anglers.
The mammoth gator was starting to attract unwanted attention at Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge when officials there decided it would have to be relocated for the safety of its visitors. The gator has apparently been feeding off chicken parts used be crabbers.
Stuart Marcus, manager at the refuge said they were aware of the problem but did not feel the need to do anything about it until it became a little too ‘friendly’.
“We were receiving comments and video of alligators approaching the shoreline when people walked up to crab, fish, or take photos,” he said in a press release. “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”.”
With help from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, wildlife officials were able to lure the gator to the shore with a piece of chicken. It took four handlers to safely get it wrangled and secured safely.
For now the refuge does not plan to make any changes to its fishing policy, but did warn anglers to take their bait lines out of the water and if they see a gator to move on. You never know how large that animal really is.
State Record Alligator removed from Champion Lake at Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge.
By Stuart Marcus and Laurie…Posted by Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday, October 12, 2016
