The following are excerpts from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports
Sting Operation
In August, a concerned citizen contacted Montgomery County game wardens regarding a neighbor keeping an alligator in his backyard. The wardens responded to the home where the alligator was reportedly kept. The homeowner admitted to capturing an alligator four or five feet in length from Lake Conroe, transporting it home to show his kids and then releasing it the next day. The wardens inspected the property and noticed a room full of aquariums. Knowledgeable in aquatic species, one of the wardens identified the animals as freshwater stingrays, which are an invasive species and illegal to possess. Through further conversation, the homeowner also admitted to removing a small alligator snapping turtle from Lake Livingston and keeping it in a tank. As the largest freshwater turtle in North America and a threatened species, it is illegal to capture or possess one without a permit. After discussing the matter with the homeowner, he agreed to assist game wardens in relocating the animals to better suited facilities. The turtle was donated to the Spring Creek Nature Center, which is permitted to possess native species and display them for educational purposes. The stingrays were transported to Moody Gardens to educate the public about different ecosystems and the harm that invasive species can cause to local wildlife.
Perception Pays Off
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit released a “Be on the Lookout” bulletin to assist in the identification of an individual and vehicle last seen leaving a crime scene in the San Elizario area. An El Paso/Hudspeth County game warden remembered the vehicle from a recent encounter with fishermen which resulted in the arrest of the individual. The warden contacted the lead investigator and passed along the identifying information. Several days later, El Paso County Sheriff's detectives notified the warden that without firm leads in the case, the information he shared with their office was vital in locating the subject and the vehicle. Due to his inter-agency collaboration, an arrest was carried out.