As “gator season” begins, Houston-area residents report increased alligator sightings, sparking safety tips from wildlife officials.
FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas — Residents in the Houston-area community of Sienna are reporting an increase in alligator sightings as “gator season” gets underway across Texas, with some encounters happening on land rather than in the water.
Neighbors in Fort Bend County say it’s common to see alligators swimming in local canals and ponds. But this time of year, they’re more often spotted walking along banks and near residential areas.
One recent encounter near a pond at Freeport Golf Course startled a couple who said an alligator climbed out of the water and began moving toward them while they were on a four-wheeler.
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“It’s not every day that you see gators acting like this,” one resident said, adding that sightings themselves are routine in the area.
Dominique Sexton, who lives in Sienna, said she recently saw what she described as the largest alligator she’s ever encountered near her home. Photos taken by Sexton and another neighbor appear to show the same animal lingering along the banks.
“Sienna has alligators. It’s built on swampland, so it’s one of the things that you learn to live with,” Sexton said. “This is the biggest one I’ve ever seen.”
She believes the alligator may be one she has seen in previous years, though noticeably larger now. Sexton said her children, who walk to school in a group, understand the importance of keeping their distance.
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Authorities also responded to a smaller alligator recently, helping it cross a road and return to a pond near West Lake Houston Parkway.
Wildlife officials say misconceptions persist about how to react during an encounter. Contrary to popular belief, running in a zig-zag pattern will not help.
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, anyone confronted by an alligator should run away as quickly as possible and seek shelter in a vehicle or building.
For many residents, the presence of alligators is simply part of life in Southeast Texas.
“Around here, it’s just a fact of living in Texas,” Sexton said.
Officials emphasize that the safest approach is to avoid the animals entirely.
“Best-case scenario,” Sexton said, “you don’t bother them, and they don’t bother you.”
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