Heavy Katy Rain Have Alligators and other Wildlife on the Move
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KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
June 16, 2026
By Natalie Cook Clark
Now through July is when alligators frequently move from one body of water to another often taking them through Katy neighborhoods. This season coupled with intense rain is adding to the movement of much local wildlife and families should stay aware.
Katy is home to many local wildlife. While some move with seasons, such as alligators, others are more likely to be active as the ongoing predicted rain pushes them out and closer to residents.
Here are some critters you should be aware of and what to do if your family encounters them.
Alligators
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.
Katy residents are quick to post gator sightings on social media from walking babies in Cinco Ranch to lounging gators along Mason Creek and throughout neighborhoods such as Cross Creek Ranch, Green Trails and more.
While experts admit alligators may appear a little intimidating (like modern day dinosaurs,) they assure Katy residents that there is no history of aggression with these fascinating and beneficial critters.
“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.”
As the Katy community continues to grow and more master-planned communities come in, alligators will continue to come into contact with residents more often.
"These developments are giving the alligators just what they want by putting in ponds and supplying them with water that is rich with wildlife," says Eversole.
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.
If an alligator isn’t considered to be an active nuisance, it’s best to leave them along and they will go on their way.
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.
“The biggest advice to follow is to never feed them, that associated you with food,” explains Brandi. “Always keep your pets on a leash. Don’t give them an easy meal!”
Snakes
While snakes can be found all year long in Katy, rainy weather is more likely to draw them out and encounters with residents increase.
Katy residents need to stay alert and be cautious of snakes. Katy moms have found snakes at local playgrounds while their children play. Family pets encounter them in their yards or while on walks. The greater Houston area has 34 different kinds of snakes. Of that number, about four are venomous. If you see a snake, leave it alone or call Animal Control.
Them most common species to avoid are the Southern Copperhead, Western Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin,) the Texas Coral Snake, and rarely the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. Most likely though, Katy families will encounter non-venomous snakes like Rat Snake, Texas Brown Snake, or the Diamondback Water Snake.
Any Snake can be Dangerous
Any animal bite can result in serious infection and injury, even without venom. If you see a snake, leave it alone unless it seems to pose an immediate threat. In that case call Animal Control.
“The best way to ward off unwanted animals is to control what they eat,” says Chris Williams of Urban Jungle Wildlife Removal. “To avoid snakes, spray for bugs to ward off lizards, control rat and rodent population. Everyone has them but if you control the food source you’ll avoid those types of predators.”
If you see a snake, call a removal company such as Urban Jungle Wildlife Removal, or your local Animal Control.
Katy has three counties and therefore, three animal control offices:
Harris County 281-999-3191
Fort Bend County 281-342-1512
Waller County 979-826-8033
Another great resource is the Southeast Snake ID Group.
Other Wildlife
Larger wildlife such as deer and hogs pose a different threat. This weather is likely to have them on the move, which poses risks on the roads. Poor visibility and their increased activity can impact drivers. Hitting a larger mammal can total vehicles and cause major accidents.
Hogs have long been a problem in the greater Katy area. They will move around more in this weather and are likely to cause damage along the way.
As long as Katy continues to build and expand, we will live among the wildlife that lived here before us. It adds to what makes Katy great, but also local families should be aware and take precaution especially when weather could have animals uneasy.
Stay Safe
The best practice when encountering local wildlife, especially if they are stressed from inclement weather is to leave them alone. It's also important to educate and teach children how to stay safe around wildlife.
Always supervise children when they are playing outside.
Do not let children play in flooded rainwater. This water is dirty and dangers such as snakes, gators, and bugs can be hiding in it.
Teach children about dangerous wildlife and tell them to always notify an adult when they spot a creature that could be harmful.
Do not touch a wild animal.
In most cases, displaced wildlife are more afraid of us than we are them.
Lost and Found Pets During Storms
Like local wildlife, family pets are afraid of bad weather. Next to holidays such as the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve (events with a presence of fireworks) more pets go missing during severe weather. They get scared and if given the opportunity, can run off as a result of that fear.
If you find a lost family pet, first look for identification tags to see if you can call its owner. If there are no tags, take the animal to a local vet who can scan it for a microchip. Don't forget that social media platforms such as Facebook and the Nextdoor App are great resources to share information regarding lost and found pets.
Keep Your Pets Safe
Don't let you dog or cat be one of those scared family pets that gets lost during bad weather.
Always keep pets indoors during severe weather.
Make sure your pets have current identification on them and are microchipped.
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