ALLIGATOR: Think you know what to do if you see an 
alligator? We'll tell you what you should and shouldn't 
do, coming up on Passport to Texas.
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 Passport to Texas, from Texas Parks and Wildlife ... 
With more and more alligators being spotted by the public in 
residential areas, you might think you'd be better off selling 
your home. The fact is ... there's no need to panic if and when 
you see a gator in your neighborhood.

"We're just trying to help people put it in perspective. People will 
begin to see more and more alligators in the future and not every 
alligator is going to be a problem." :10

Greg Creacy is a wildlife biologist with Texas Parks and 
Wildlife. He says horror movies and attacks by the more 
dangerous, and non-native crocodiles have caused people to be 
afraid of Texas alligators. In fact, in the past 15 years, there 
have only been 15 reported alligator-related injuries to 
humans. 
"The number of attacks by alligators in the US each year is less than 
injuries and fatalities from dogs, scorpions, snakes and sharks ... all of 
those are much more dangerous to people than alligators." :16

So what do you do if you see an alligator? Keep a safe 
distance from them and keep pets away from them. Don't 
swim in an area where there are alligators ... and don't feed 
them. 

"Because people have fed that alligator they've broken down their 
natural fear that alligator has for people." :07

That's our show for today ... For information on living with 
alligators, as well as research reports and basic natural 
history, log on to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Website.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I'm Cecilia Nasti.