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Texas

cab67

(3,850 posts)

21. This is something of an urban legend.

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Reply #20)

Tue May 19, 2026, 08:48 AM

Tuesday

One absolutely should keep some space, but their window of rapid movement is very brief. It would stop or slow down before you had a chance to zig or zag.

Alligators literally cannot run. They can walk faster at times, but most people can outrun their version of a fast walk.

The real danger is if a gator lunges at you.

The real threat is if you get too close to the water. And even there, adult humans are larger than their usual prey base. (For large Nile and saltwater crocodiles, that's not the case.) There have been predatory attacks, but most attacks are thought to be defensive.

Small children, on the other hand, could be at risk. For some attacks on adults, the adult was stooped over to do something, making them look smaller.

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efhmc

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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 May 17 OP

Can they be identified as different individuals? efhmc May 17 #1

What do you mean? LetMyPeopleVote May 17 #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 May 17 #7

Often, yes. cab67 May 17 #13

I really prefer not to get close enough to check out their teeth. Thanks anyway. efhmc May 17 #16

binoculars are adequate for larger gators. cab67 May 17 #17

Gators can outrun a person easily The Blue Flower May 17 #2

Well that is scary. efhmc May 17 #8

Not entirely true. cab67 May 17 #10

Very interesting. Thank you. efhmc May 17 #12

for once... cab67 May 17 #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 May 17 #15

Thank you for this information LetMyPeopleVote Monday #18

You want to keep your distance LetMyPeopleVote Monday #20

This is something of an urban legend. cab67 Tuesday #21

I agree that the real danger is if the lunges at you LetMyPeopleVote Tuesday #23

This is true. cab67 Tuesday #24

It's gator breeding season, they're just out looking for a good time. sop May 17 #3

Back when my kids were in scouting, we camped at a park full of gators LetMyPeopleVote May 17 #5

Well, aren't we all but my idea of doing that is reading about other folk's doing the looking. efhmc May 17 #9

Is he big ENOUGH? Maybe needs to chow down on a Greg Abbott or Ken Paxton---don't ya think? hlthe2b May 17 #6

What to do? Norrrm May 17 #11

My daughter used to ride horses in Sienna - TBF Monday #19

This was on the local ABC station last night LetMyPeopleVote Tuesday #22

I am glad that I do not have a pool LetMyPeopleVote Wednesday #25