Spotting an alligator in North Texas once felt like a myth. Now, researchers say they’re not only here — they’re thriving.
The Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge is leading a growing effort to track, tag, and study local alligators, including nests and newly hatched babies. Staff say this is their busiest week of the year: alligator nesting season.
Crews search wetlands for nests
Crews comb through more than 1,000 acres of wetlands by boat, ATV, foot, and drone, searching for new nests and the fiercely protective mothers guarding them.
“These nests can have dozens of eggs inside,” said Jared Wood, manager at the Nature Center. “We may not always get close enough to collect data, but we’ll mark it with GPS and monitor with game cameras.”
Viral photo sparked public interest
Just three years ago, public awareness about local gators was nearly nonexistent — until a viral photo of a 10-foot alligator sunbathing at the refuge raised eyebrows. Many thought it was fake…