Alligators in a lake in Texas appear to have begun to crave human blood by attacking boats for unclear reasons.
Even the local police and residents are baffled as to why the alligators have lately gone on the attack.
No documented human casualties occurred.
Although they are still wild animals, authorities claimed that assaults like this are uncommon in a lake in Sugar Land, a city 20 miles southwest of Houston.
However, since late August, two boats navigating the lake have been attacked by alligators.
Residents in the neighborhood are worried, and anecdotal information suggests that there haven't been any connected crocodile attacks in more than a decade.
However, locals said gator attacks in Sugar Land lake are rare.
Alligators tend to search for easy options in terms of meals and will target tinier animals like fish and turtles, among others.
Alligator Attacks in Texas Lake
According to Newsweek, local rowing club president Dee Connors said she has been rowing in the Sugar Land lake for 20 years and that an alligator had ever attacked neither her nor her partners.
The alligators that are behind the attacks have been sought after by alligator trappers.
Additionally, Connors told KHOU that they had apprehended one of the alleged alligators responsible for the two boat assaults.
According to reports, Connors described the following events that took place in relation to the alligator boat assaults.
In the first instance, one of the boatmen hit the alligator in the lake with his oar. The alligator bit the end of his boat on the second day, finally causing it to sink. After making it to land alive, the man had to walk a mile carrying his boat.
The second incidence involved a different boat and a rower who, an alligator, likewise chomped.
The rower was able to get to the beach without getting hurt, according to The Jerusalem Post.
Possible Explanation
Wildlife scientists have emphasized that fatal alligator attacks are uncommon and that this is due to the animals' natural non-aggressive nature towards people.
However, assaults can still happen for various reasons, including when provoked, intimidated, or used to receiving food from people.
According to the Texas Sugar Land administration, which was reported by Newsweek, the city's growth and the alligator population in Sugar Land have also raised the possibility of animal conflicts involving gators and people.
Additionally, several neighbors said clearing the riverside of weeds had revealed alligator nests, which may be another cause of the violent behavior.
Authorities believe up to 500,000 alligators reside throughout the state, with many living in the marshy region of southeast Texas.
Jonathan Warner, who oversees Texas Parks and Wildlife's alligator program, told The Independent that the occurrences were probably caused by the gators' "mistaken" attempts to obtain food.
The gators "thought this was a prey item, took a chance, did it, and realized, this isn't food," the author claims.
Warner stated that the issue is in control and being watched.
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