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Texas

cab67

(3,848 posts)

21. This is something of an urban legend.

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Reply #20)

Tue May 19, 2026, 08:48 AM

Yesterday

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 Sunday OP

Can they be identified as different individuals? efhmc Sunday #1

What do you mean? LetMyPeopleVote Sunday #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 Sunday #7

Often, yes. cab67 Sunday #13

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

binoculars are adequate for larger gators. cab67 Sunday #17

Gators can outrun a person easily The Blue Flower Sunday #2

Well that is scary. efhmc Sunday #8

Not entirely true. cab67 Sunday #10

Very interesting. Thank you. efhmc Sunday #12

for once... cab67 Sunday #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 Sunday #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 Yesterday #21

I agree that the real danger is if the lunges at you LetMyPeopleVote 21 hrs ago #23

This is true. cab67 21 hrs ago #24

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

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

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

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

What to do? Norrrm Sunday #11

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

This was on the local ABC station last night LetMyPeopleVote 21 hrs ago #22