Experts Advise Katy Residents on Gators as They Serve a Vital Purpose
- Jul 16
- 3 min read
KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
July 16, 2026
By Natalie Cook Clark
Despite recent attacks and warnings, local officials stress that Katy residents should be cautious but not concerned during this active alligator summer. Here’s what to know to keep your family and pets safe while enjoying these “modern-day dinosaurs.”
This is the season when alligators are on the move and can be seen in Katy neighborhoods. Recently Texas Parks and Wildlife Department issued an advisory for Clear Lake, Nassau Bay and Upper Texas Gulf Coast. While these areas are not in Katy, local parks have stressed caution to residents as alligators frequent the area.
Despite the recent advisories and attacks in Florida, local wildlife experts say that Texas gators are different from those in Florida. Still, they share tips on how to stay safe.
“While alligators look concerning, they are not aggressive towards people,” says Captain Game Warden Brandi Reeder. “As with all wildlife, if alligators are not given space they will react. Usually, alligators will request space with a warning by hiss, but if they are harassed or feel threatened, they may turn and snap.”
Now through the month of July is when alligators are likely to be on the move, they pass from one body of water to another throughout mating season. Their movement can put them in neighborhoods and even family yards, garages, or the occasional kitchen visit.
“These alligators are not aggressive like ones in Florida,” says retired and now Special Game Warden Barry Eversole. “These are also no crocodiles in Texas and actually only a small portion of Florida has them.”
This time of year is when local alligators become social media stars as Katy residents share footage and pictures of these beneficial creatures.
“They serve a vital function in our coastal ecosystems and have allowed us to share their marsh for many years without issue,” says Captain Reeder.
The local alligators are beneficial to local ecosystem and are good for our communities to have.
“While alligators are quick, they tend to move slower and look for something easy grab such as the sick and injured,” says Captain Game Warden Brandi Reeder, who has been a game warden for over 26 years.
“If a duck has cholera, the gator will take out the sick bird preventing it from infecting other birds,” adds Eversole. “This helps to manage the population and prevent the spread of disease.”
Of course, an alligator can still sometimes get in a resident’s way. If a gator is blocking your exit or entrance to your residence or work, then Texas Parks will remove it for a fee based on the removal expert who goes out. Call 512-389-4848.
Katy residents can live among alligators safely by following these tips:
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.
“Respect their space, don’t feed them, keep your pets on a leash, and enjoy our modern-day dinosaurs as they are speculated to have originated over 18 million years ago,” says Captain Reeder.
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