Feeding an alligator in a Spring neighborhood lake is a Class C misdemeanor that can cost up to $500, Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 71 (HCMUD 71) warned Wednesday, Sept. 9.
The district's public safety advisory applies to fish and bait, too. According to HCMUD 71, feeding causes gators to associate people with food. Once that happens, the animal loses its natural fear of humans and may start approaching residents. In those cases, the district said, the alligator typically must be removed and is often euthanized.
Who to call
HCMUD 71 laid out two reporting paths. Residents who spot an alligator over four feet long lingering near trails, homes or other public areas should call the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) dispatch line at (512) 389-4848. TPWD defines a nuisance alligator under state administrative code as one that is depredating or poses a threat to human health or safety.
A gator on or near a roadway is a different call. The district directs residents to contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) non-emergency line at (713) 221-6000.
State law also prohibits killing, harassing or possessing alligators.
Staying safe near the water
Alligators are most active at dawn and dusk, the advisory said, and sightings increase during spring and summer breeding and nesting season. The district urged residents to keep at least 30 feet from any alligator. A hissing gator is warning you that you are too close.
Dogs face extra risk. The advisory noted that dogs resemble an alligator's natural prey and should never swim, drink or exercise near water that may contain gators.
Alligators common across Southeast Texas
The advisory described alligator sightings as routine in the region. Gators thrive in bayous, creeks, drainage channels, detention ponds and neighborhood lakes, including those within HCMUD 71's service area. The district noted that the American alligator was once near extinction from unregulated hunting but has rebounded under state and federal protections.
Harris County deputies have handled gator calls this summer. On July 9, HCSO said on X that Deputies M. Peavler and K. Loera responded to Sheldon Ridge Way, where they wrangled an alligator hiding under a pickup truck and released it into Sheldon Reservoir.
No specific sighting or incident prompted the Sept. 9 advisory. The district framed it as a seasonal reminder for residents living near detention ponds and lakes.
