Alligators Frequent Katy Walking Trails
- 10 minutes ago
- 2 min read
KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
February 17, 2026
By Natalie Cook Clark
Katy is full of beautiful walking trails, but local adventurers need to understand that a vast amount of wildlife share this land. One Katy family has named two large alligators that are known in the community.
Katy residents share their neighborhoods with many wild critters. From bobcats, snakes, coyotes, racoons, large alligators and more sightings all serve as reminders of what lives among us. As Katy continues to grow, more residents will come face to face with local animals.
For years, a local student and wildlife enthusiast, Logan Dark sent in videos and pictures of alligators to Katy Magazine. Logan was killed while riding his bike to school in September of 2023. His parents still walk along the path their son enjoyed so much near Cinco Ranch Boulevard. This month his mom spotted two large alligators along the creek.
Logan’s mom, Heather Hamilton shared these images of two very large alligators she encountered while jogging out to her son’s memorial.
“They are monsters,” says Heather when describing the size of these animals. “Logan called them Bob and Babs.”
One of the first videos Logan sent into the magazine was the time when a gator snatched his catch from the line. Read the story here.
"I see these two regularly when the weather starts warming up," says Hamilton. "As Logan reminded me, they wish us no ill will as long as we keep an eye out for them and then give them a wide berth."
Alligators are frequently seen in the Katy area near lakes, ponds, and neighborhood water areas and ditches. According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), "Most Texans in 'gator country' will live in close proximity to these native reptiles with no confrontations."
The TPWD says alligators have a natural fear of humans and will usually retreat upon seeing them and says it's uncommon for gators to approach humans. Yet, Katy families need to be careful.
Safe Practices for Katy Families
The best preventative practice is to maintain constant supervision of children when they play near any bodies of water like bayous. Teach children to be aware of their surroundings and to back away if they encounter a gator.
Do not let children play around lakes, ponds, or swamps unsupervised.
Let children know where gators could be, and to stay alert in these areas.
Warn children about the dangers of gators and what to do if they encounter one: leave the alligator alone, maintain a distance of approximately 30+ feet, and leave the area.
Remind children to stay away from the edges of lakes, ponds, or swamps.
Advise children not to go after balls or toys that landed in a lake, pond, or swamp.
Keep pets enclosed or on a leash in areas where there are gators.
Be aware of fishing lines or hooks that can attract gators due to their similarities to natural food.
#TheKatyGym #TheKatyGym