DALLAS MORNING NEWS (Texas) 28 June 07 Large alligator spotted in Lake Ray Hubbard (Ian McCann)
Jagger Weatherford thought at first that the "thing in the water" this week was one of the beavers that occasionally visit the shoreline behind his house in Rockwall.
But after closer inspection, the 8-year-old and his dad, Reid Weatherford, figured out that the animal floating in Lake Ray Hubbard early Tuesday evening was an alligator. And a big one at that, believed by the Weatherfords and their neighbors to be about 10 feet long.
A Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden who oversees the region said the gator was probably pushed into the main body of the lake by runoff from heavy rains and water released from Lavon Lake to the north.
"When we get a lot of rain and floodwater, they get flushed out of their habitat," Capt. Garry Collins said. "They're all over that area, especially to the north between Hubbard and Lavon. They're just not real common for people to see. This is their natural habitat."
Once the lake's level recedes and the creeks and rivers calm down, Capt. Collins said, any alligators in the lakes should go back where they're most comfortable: uninhabited areas near slow-moving water with abundant fish to eat.
Melissa Weatherford, Jagger's mom, said the family was startled to see the animal.
"It's definitely not something you see every day," she said. "It was about 10 feet off the lakeshore, just stationary. He was in no hurry – he was just chilling out."
They saw the gator's head, and then it heaved itself up in the water, exposing most of its body. And it eventually swam away, but not before Mr. Weatherford and some of his neighbors on Coastal Drive in The Shores subdivision could capture video and photos of the massive reptile.
"What surprised me was there was one this big," said David Boykin, who also spotted the alligator. "This is the first time we've seen one."
Two years ago, another large alligator – possibly about 8 feet long – was seen in Chandlers Landing, a few miles south of The Shores.
Capt. Collins said alligators are fairly docile and will usually try to flee from humans, but people should still take a few precautions:
• Never feed alligators. ("They're lazy creatures. If you feed one, it'll be right up to your back door."
• Keep an eye on children, and don't let them play near the water alone.
• Pets, especially small animals, could be at risk.
• Don't approach gators. Leave them alone, and they'll go away.
"And we were worried about snakes," Ms. Weatherford said with a laugh.
Large alligator spotted in Lake Ray Hubbard