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Texas

cab67

(3,846 posts)

14. for once...

Reply to efhmc (Reply #12)

Sun May 17, 2026, 08:16 PM

4 hrs ago

..my actual field of work was relevant on DU!

I'm a vertebrate paleontologist/herpetologist who studies the evolution and diversity of gators, crocs, and relatives for a living.

I went to grad school in Austin, and I'm a birder, so I saw gators aplenty in wetlands near Houston. Some of them were of substantial size. But I also once watched a pair of otters literally playing and chasing each other around and even upon a big gator. The gator didn't seem fazed.

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Highlight:

Massive gator spotted taking a stroll in Sienna, the latest to be spotted in the Fort Bend County community [View all] LetMyPeopleVote 8 hrs ago OP

Can they be identified as different individuals? efhmc 7 hrs ago #1

What do you mean? LetMyPeopleVote 7 hrs ago #4

For instance, if I saw this one last week, can I or will I be able to id it as the same specimen? efhmc 6 hrs ago #7

Often, yes. cab67 5 hrs ago #13

I really prefer not to get close enough to check out their teeth. Thanks anyway. efhmc 4 hrs ago #16

binoculars are adequate for larger gators. cab67 3 hrs ago #17

Gators can outrun a person easily The Blue Flower 7 hrs ago #2

Well that is scary. efhmc 6 hrs ago #8

Not entirely true. cab67 6 hrs ago #10

Very interesting. Thank you. efhmc 5 hrs ago #12

for once... cab67 4 hrs ago #14

I am in central (right wing) Texas but was in Houston for many years. I miss it so very much. I miss the diversity, the efhmc 4 hrs ago #15

It's gator breeding season, they're just out looking for a good time. sop 7 hrs ago #3

Back when my kids were in scouting, we camped at a park full of gators LetMyPeopleVote 7 hrs ago #5

Well, aren't we all but my idea of doing that is reading about other folk's doing the looking. efhmc 6 hrs ago #9

Is he big ENOUGH? Maybe needs to chow down on a Greg Abbott or Ken Paxton---don't ya think? hlthe2b 7 hrs ago #6

What to do? Norrrm 6 hrs ago #11