The furry gators of the Parker Strip
July 3rd, 2008
The furry gators of the Parker Strip
The following report comes from Wildlife Officer Dee Pfleger who works the Parker Strip area of the Colorado River.
I spoke with some folks last week who supposedly saw and photographed an 8-foot alligator on the Parker Strip. This is the latest of several reports that I have received since March, including a false rumor that Game and Fish had actually caught and removed the gator. I have yet to see a picture of said gator.
Following this latest report I went out and spent some time in the vicinity of the sighting and spoke with several more eye witnesses. They told me they were standing on shore at about sunset when they saw the animal bubbled up in the lagoon. Only the head/eyes sticking out of the water but based on the silhouette of the body they estimate it to be 5-8 feet long. The lagoon they spoke of averages less than 3 feet deep.
After several hours and near sunset I found what I think may have been the suspect, a Boone and Crockett beaver was sitting on the shore just down stream from the area seen the night before gorging itself on mesquite beans. I got as close as I could to take some photos and video until his patience with me ended and then I followed him downstream after he slipped back into the river. I did notice that his nose sticking up out of the water did sort of resemble a very black eye from certain angles.
I returned to the eye witnesses who were picking up their things up river and as I explained that I had found a very large beaver feeding just downriver when one of their group reacted suddenly pointing over my shoulder shouting, “What is that then?” As I spun around I observed a second beaver swimming out of the lagoon and also heading downstream.
While talking with anglers in the area and telling them about the “gator report,” they responded with, “Oh, you mean the beaver?”
As you can see, the gator report truly turned into a beaver tale.
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Dearest Dee Pfleger,
I am so greatful for your posting on the alligator! My husband is the one who called. I am still waiting for the pictures from my friends. I spent the whole 4th of July weekend on Parker Strip, saw no alligators but they sure were on all of our minds. ha
What a great website. Thanks again for responding so quickly.