What not to do around an alligator

HOUSTON – The news that a toddler was killed by an alligator at the Walt Disney World resort has shocked the world. The Houston area has had its own share of alligator scares. Within the past few months, alligators have been captured in neighborhoods in Katy, Richmond, Needville and Missouri City.

The experts with Gator Squad have three main rules if you're around an alligator -- Don't feed it, don't harass it and don't approach it.

"Any body of fresh water could have an alligator in it," Christy Kroboth with Gator Squad said.

Kroboth is saddened to hear an alligator pulled a 2-year-old boy into a lagoon in Orlando Tuesday night. She believes it was a case of mistaken identity after the alligator heard splashing in the water.

"They're just gonna see what kind of food they can get because maybe it's an injured duck or something splashing around. They're gonna go investigate," she said.

Kroboth said alligators are especially aggressive now during mating season that ends at the end of the month. She said if you ever see an alligator, don't be alarmed.

"If you see one, don't get close to it. Stand at least 30 feet away. Don't harass him. You can get in big trouble for messing with alligators, like any other wildlife," she said.

The No. 1 rule she said is do not feed the alligators.

"Then that alligator starts to see people as food and it's going to start stalking people around ponds, looking for handouts and that creates a danger not only for yourself but for the whole community," she said.

Kroboth said alligators eat and hunt only at night and in the early morning, so that's when you should be extra careful around fresh water.

Families visiting Kitty Hollow Park in Fort Bend County on Wednesday night said they were alert around several ponds inside the park.

“There's alligators in this neck of the woods. There's alligators, just be cautious. It's nothing different than we've always known,” said Richard Sicard.

Sicard, who's a father of three young children, thought of 2-year-old Lane Graves. An alligator pulled Lane into the water in Orlando Tuesday night and officials believe the boy drowned.

“It's absolutely horrible. If it was my child, I'd be extremely upset by it,” said Sicard.

Sicard said he's very attentive around water with his children.

“Stay away from the water, stay away from the alligators if you do see one,” said Sicard.

That's exactly what an expert with the Gator Squad said to do.

“If you see one, don't get close to it. Stand at least 30 feet away. Don't harass him. You can get in big trouble for messing with alligators, like any other wildlife,” said Christy Kroboth.

Kroboth said any body of fresh water can have an alligator in it. She said if you see one, don't approach it, harass it or feed it.

“Then that alligator starts to see people as food and it's going to start stalking people around ponds, looking for handouts,” said Kroboth.

For parents like Stacey Gonzalez, she doesn't even take a risk with what could be lurking underneath.

“When we have the kids, we really don't stay close to the water,” said Gonzalez. “I think we're doing a pretty good job ... being real watchful and mindful of the water and the potential dangers of the water and what could be in the water.”


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