After pictures of the reptile were shared on social media, a photo of a large 12-foot alligator that was captured by police in a Texas neighborhood has created quite a stir.
Constable Mark Herman from Harris County Constable Precinct 4 posted pictures to his Facebook page with the caption, "SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR," which is a well-known expression.
Alligators
Alligators typically range in length from 6 to 14 feet, placing them at the top end of the carnivore spectrum, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD).
The eastern third of Texas and other parts of the South are home to the American alligator, which is typically found close to the water in places like swamps, rivers, bayous, and marshes.
According to the TPWD website, American alligators typically avoid humans, but when they establish territories close to people, they may be perceived as a nuisance animal, making the species a protected game animal in the State of Texas.
There have been more encounters between humans and alligators in Texas as the state's human population grows.
Alligators should be handled carefully because they have been known to prey on animals. On land, alligators are surprisingly quick and can move quickly over short distances.
A group of alligators living in a Sugar Land lake in Texas, near Houston, have recently made headlines in Texas by attacking boats. Two attacks in as many weeks were reported earlier this month.
Wandering in a Texas Neighborhood
Three images were uploaded to Facebook by Harris County Constable Precinct 4. Two pictures showed the enormous alligator lying on the ground with what appeared to be duct tape wrapped around its powerful jaws as police officers posed around it. One picture showed the enormous alligator partially underneath a car.
A 12-foot alligator was reportedly in the middle of the road this morning when deputies from Constable Mark Herman's Office were called to block 13800 of North Lake Branch Lane in the Waters Edge neighborhood of Atascocita.
The alligator has been safely caught and is in the care of Animal Control.
The TPWD provided advice for anyone coming into contact with an alligator, noting that most Texans living in "gator country" will do so without ever engaging in conflict.
However, there are times when particular alligators become a problem and need to be dealt with by the appropriate authorities.
According to the TPWD website, hearing an alligator signals that it is very close.
Backing slowly away is advised if an alligator is a few yards away. Wild alligators rarely pursue humans, but they are capable of sprinting up to 35 mph over short distances on land.
Read also: 88-Year-Old Woman Mauled to Death by Massive Alligator in South Carolina
Dinosaur in Texas and on Social Media
Since being posted on Monday, it has received 1,300 likes and many comments from viewers who were present.
Nicole Logan concurred with Joseph Torres' joke that dinosaurs are now prowling through neighborhoods, claiming that the large alligator was a complete dinosaur.
David Hosler quipped that the county court in the area set the gator's bond at $100.
Rose Halligan wrote that if she came across a gator on the road, she wouldn't know what to do.
While Tammie Royer admitted that If she were in the situation, she would be atop the car, Newsweek reports.
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