11-foot alligator killed at Coleto Creek swimming area
Larry Janik, a nuisance control hunter of El Campo, shot an alligator near a swimming area at Coleto Creek Park on Wednesday. The alligator was being a nuisance to the swimmers.
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If you spot an alligator
Don't feed them. Alligators will associate food with people. Plus, there is a $500 fine if you're caught.
Don't harass them.
Stay at least 30 feet away.
Contact your state park game warden if ...
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If you spot an alligator
Don't feed them. Alligators will associate food with people. Plus, there is a $500 fine if you're caught.
Don't harass them.
Stay at least 30 feet away.
Contact your state park game warden if you see alligators near a swimming area.
If an alligator catches your fishing line, just cut the line and let it go.
Source: Monique Slaughter, Texas Parks and Wildlife
The largest alligator on record in Texas was found in Jackson County. The gator was 14 feet 4 inches long.
Alligators grow from six to eight inches a year. After they reach six feet, their growth slows down considerably.
The average Texas alligator is 7 foot 6 inches during harvest season
In the last 75 years, no one in Texas has ever been killed from an alligator attack per se. There have been some incidences, such as bites, but only after someone harassed or fed them.
Source: Monique Slaughter, Texas Parks and Wildlife
COLETO CREEK - A 11-foot, 6-inch American alligator was killed Wednesday after being a nuisance to swimmers at Coleto Creek Park, near Goliad.
The 800-pound alligator was about 40 yards away from nearly a dozen people swimming at the creek, said Larry Janik, the nuisance control hunter from El Campo .
The park called Janik to handle the alligator. He shot it with his rifle.
Killing the alligator was a safer option than moving it somewhere else, said Janik, who also has an alligator farm and incubates baby alligators in El Campo.
"When you've got an 800-pound alligator that's not scared of people, it's more likely to put the problem on somebody else," he said.
Monique Slaughter, a Texas Parks and Wildlife natural resource specialist in Port Arthur, agreed that the alligator needed to be shot.
"If it's a nuisance gator, it's not wise to move it somewhere else because it'll be a problem elsewhere," Slaughter said. "If it's over 6 foot, it's harder to move. It's a lot safer to euthanize them."
Janik said he gets between 400 and 600 nuisance calls a month, with the most being from Brazoria, Matagorda and Fort Bend counties. He handles calls from Galveston down to South Padre Island, he said.
Based on the alligator's size, Slaughter estimated its age was in its late to mid 30s.
No part of the alligator will go to waste, Janik said.
"Its hide will go to a tannery and be used for leather goods, boots, shoes, wallets," he said. "The meat will be processed in restaurants and stores."
Comments
HERO!
September 26, 2009 at 5:01 p.m.Mr. Janik, you are a hero! Thank you for eliminating a dangerous predator easily capable of killing humans, canines, wildlife of all types, and cattle, etc. You have prevented a tragedy. Hooray!
September 26, 2009 at 3:48 p.m.If I was a gator, it sure would be nice to know the definition of "a nuisance gator". Is it just my appearance or size or the amount of food I eat or the fact I am not afraid of humans that makes me a nuisance?
July 28, 2009 at 12:19 a.m.I think it was right to shoot and kill the gator,who wants to swim with a 800 lb gator,better him than a child.
July 27, 2009 at 11:46 p.m.Poor Gator.
July 18, 2009 at 12:04 a.m.Goliad County...My Bad.
July 17, 2009 at 9:17 p.m.Wow! Big gator. However, Coleto Creek Reservoir Park is actually not so "near" Goliad. It's closer to Victora, in fact.
July 17, 2009 at 8:39 p.m.