Game warden shoots, kills 10-foot alligator

Third alligator sighting Local 2 has covered in a week

HOUSTON – Alligators are showing up everywhere in southeast Texas.

Over the last week and a half, alligators have been spotted from Sienna Plantation to Richmond to Clear Lake.

Early Wednesday morning, a 10-foot alligator was shot and killed in Clear Lake. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said the game warden had no choice but to kill the alligator.

"A gator poses a threat not only to the vehicles driving down the road, but to officers as well. Despite however many officers you have, our No. 1 goals is to sure that no game warden or officer gets hurt or the public," said Fred Ruiz with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

According to dispatchers, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is getting several calls a day about alligators, with some reports saying that the reptiles are crawling up to the front doors of houses.

"Anywhere there is a body of water there is a potential for an alligator," said Ruiz.

So far, the number of sightings for 2013 is normal, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. The agency said 2012 logged more sightings.

Alligators are out in numbers now because it is breeding season and because of the recent rains in Texas. Game wardens want people to know if they see an alligator in a bayou, it is not necessary to report the sighting. They suggest only reporting the sighting if it appears that the presence of the alligator poses a real threat.