This lumpy lizard didn’t stick around long after I spotted him, but he did give me one good shot at him before he sank. A rather large Alligator lurking in the waters of Horsepen Bayou. Somewhere between 11 or 12 feet in length.

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Tags:   WanaM3 Texas Pasadena predator Clear Lake City Horsepen Bayou bayou outdoors nature wildlife canoeing paddling reptile lizard lumpy lizard gator alligator Alligator Mississippiensis nature photography apex predator eyes observer

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Someone asked about smaller alligators and I have to say that this one here is in the 5-foot range. If he avoids the big boys and grows a bit more, he/she may be well on their way to become a permanent resident of the bayou. Photo taken on Horsepen Bayou.

I also want to offer up an update on the new floating dock that was just installed. I reached out to the County Commissioners office and was contacted by a representative today. He informed me that the new floating dock was just the beginning of the improvements that are being made. New piers are planned that will be available for launch of our canoes and kayaks. I’ll be looking forward to seeing what is being planned and hope that it’s a helpful addition to the existing facility. If they are floating piers, the accommodations should be a welcome addition to the park. I want to thank the County Commissioner for touching base with me and for being so gracious.


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Tags:   WanaM3 Texas Pasadena Clear Lake City Horsepen Bayou bayou nature wildlife outdoors nature photography canoeing paddling animal reptile lizard lumpy lizard gator alligator Alligator Mississippiensis

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If the youngster survives and keeps its wits about it, the end results could be something that looks like this. This is one of the larger alligators on the bayou, but not the largest one. I am going to say that this one is 12-foot plus and is likely the second in command to Big Boy who is THE largest alligator on the bayou.

I know that most people are concerned about an alligator attack, but as long as you read their body language you should be safe (with wildlife, there is never a guarantee). They really are not there lurking under the water just waiting to eat the first canoer or kayaker that happens down the bayou. The truth is, that they can be a challenge to approach at times and are usually frightened when they are approached. Hiding under the water is what has kept them alive over the millions of years that they’ve been on earth.


If you have not read the page about alligators, I recommend that you do so. I have never been threatened by anything other than a nesting female and would immediately back away if a large male approached my canoe in a threatening way, but that has never happened. I have backed away from a couple that were issuing territorial behavior, but that was during mating season and they were not in attack mode.

www.wanam3.com/alligators/


Remember, only one death in Texas since they have been keeping records and that death, can be attributed to PURE ignorance. I am not the bravest person in the world, and I am not the most foolish either. The bayou is their domain, and they share is with me quite willingly and I hope it stays that way.


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To tell the truth, these larger alligators are sometimes difficult to approach and go sliding off into the bayou just as this one is doing. Some people think that this is part of an attack, but they are merely trying to get back into the water where they can be comfortable and hide from those prying eyes. This one is roughly 11 feet in length usually heads to the water when I approach. One of the more skittish males. Photo taken on Horsepen Bayou.

I guess a bit of a footnote is in order here. The debris that you see floating in water a bit closer to the camera is the dying remains of the dreaded water hyacinth. I hope the freeze keeps it away for a while, but I have no idea what makes it explode at time and what keeps it from growing at other time.


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Tags:   WanaM3 Texas Pasadena Clear Lake City Horsepen Bayou bayou outdoors nature wildlife nature photography canoeing paddlign animal reptile lizard gator alligator predator apex predator Alligator Mississippiensis lumpy log

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This is actually about this 12-foot bit of armored flesh that inhabits this particular part of the bayou, things are always in flux on the bayou. The first time I passed by this area he was at the edge of the water and was thinking about crawling out of the water and grabbing a few rays but was not about to do that while I was around and so I paddled on.

When I returned, he had hoisted himself up the embankment and was keep a wary eye on HIS domain. I’ll post a photo of this alligator in basically the same place from a few weeks earlier and before the freeze. You will get to see the difference the freeze has made in this particular spot. You will also get an idea of just how dramatic the tidal changes can be in the bayou. It is an estuary and is connected to the Gulf of Mexico through some lakes and channels and the tide does impact things on the bayou. The water is considered brackish because of the ebb and flow of the tides and water runoff from the city of Clear Lake. The water was bit high when I took the first shot and was dramatically low when I took this shot. Same ol’ Lumpy Lizard sunning himself on Horsepen Bayou. It’s called a slide because they do just slide off into the water in case anyone gets too close.


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Tags:   WanaM3 Texas Pasadena Clear Lake City Horsepen Bayou bayou outdoors nature wildlife nature photography canoeing paddling slide animal reptile lizard gator alligator lumpy lizard Alligator Mississippiensis predator apex predator post freeze

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