Hello Everyone

I close to retiring and would like to buy a small lake home in southern Texas.

I discovered that the few I am looking at have gators in the lake.

Are they a big threat or merely a nuisance?

I am from Michigan and have no experience.

Thanks 

The problem with gators is people feeding them, otherwise they'll mostly leave you alone.  I'd inquire with people that live there.

Thanks Alex

Here in south Florida gators are all over the place and if I lived on a lake filled with them or on a bank overlooking the glades I’d certainly be on the lookout for them—not only in a remote or secluded place but even in a very populated residential community where everyone thinks that they are safe. There was a lady walking her dog in a residential area down here in St Lucy when a 10ft gator came up out of the water and tried to snag her dog but ended up snagging the lady’s leg and pulling her into the water and then killing her. Point is, no matter where, be mindful and trigger ready when in the mix of bad company! 

Appreciate the response....

Alligators are generally not aggressive, but will eat small dogs and people. Most serious injuries happen because people don't recognize the threat they present.   Our local handyman was attacked when he was fixing an irrigation pipe and put his hand in the water.  He survived, but he almost lost his hand.  A few people are killed in Florida every year by gators.   The State will remove them when they become a problem. As more people move into their habitat, this becomes more common. As long as you stay away from them, they will stay away from you. 

Thanks Captain Phil

I live in southern Arkansas, nine miles from the Louisiana border. I'm told that one of the smaller lakes that I fish has a bunch of gators. In my mind, if they're in one lake, they'll be in others. I've never seen one. I subscribe to the thought that if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone. I worry more about snakes falling out of the cypress trees, but that just me.

Just depends, but keeping your distance is good enough for the most part. I personally don't enjoy bank fishing in areas with many gators, I don't like having to look over my shoulder while fishing so they kind of ruin it for me. If I had a boat with a decent trolling motor I'd feel fine though. Wasn't a concern on Toledo Bend though we saw many.

Thanks

Yes the plan is to relax and fish not continually be on alert.
Thanks for the feedback and opinions/experience.

3 hours ago, Alex from GA said:

The problem with gators is people feeding them, otherwise they'll mostly leave you alone.  I'd inquire with people that live there.

“Mostly” ?

“Alligators are generally not aggressive,but will eat small dogs and people.“

 

That sir is Gold. New working title for the autoBio

Honestly, I’m telling you, don’t let kids/dogs wonder near the bank especially unsupervised, but again when walking down a bank walk at an angle so you can see and make your presence known. If they are surprised or frightened they are dangerous to anyone. If they see you and you see them, 99.9% they turn and go the other way…now the adolescent ones 2-3-4 feet will chase lures and come investigate stuff

Gators are most aggressive during mating season. Depending on which lake in Texas the population may be low.

I live on the St Johns in Florida, they are every where. It has become second nature to kinda be on the lookout for them. For the most part they stay away from you.  
Every morning I’ve got a big one swim by the house, 10+, and he mosses back by in the evening. 

7 hours ago, GRiver said:

I live on the St Johns in Florida, they are every where. It has become second nature to kinda be on the lookout for them. For the most part they stay away from you.  
Every morning I’ve got a big one swim by the house, 10+, and he mosses back by in the evening. 

 

The largest gators I have ever seen are in the St. John's river.  Lake Jesup is full of them.  The last time I fished Lake Apopka, they were so thick it looked like you could walk across the lake on their backs.  Years ago, there was a huge gator that lived in Loxahatchee that reportedly was 100 years old and over 15 feet.  My son and I saw that gator once laying on the bank in low water.  It was all white and it was so huge it dwarfed by bass boat.  Laying in the mud, the hind quarters looked to be 4 feet tall.  We got the heck out of there!

On 8/19/2023 at 1:18 PM, 813basstard said:

“Alligators are generally not aggressive,but will eat small dogs and people.“

 

That sir is Gold. New working title for the autoBio

Exactly what I thought.