7-Foot Alligator Raised as Pet by a Texas Woman for Over 20 Years

A woman who raised a 7-foot alligator as her pet for over two decades was forced to bid goodbye to the beast because she didn't have proper permits.

Texas Woman Raised an Alligator Pet

Texas Parks and Wildlife officials discovered a massive alligator outside a woman's backyard Saturday. The officials said she had raised the gator from an egg she stole from the Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo in New Braunfels. The woman also faces up to $1,000 in fines and fees for possessing the alligator illegally, KSAT reported.

Game warden Joann Garza told the outlet that the alligator was "very friendly" with the woman, who had cared for it for over 20 years.

Garza said the woman took it a bit tough, but she has to follow all the rules and regulations in the state. Texas allows residents to keep alligators if they are for farming, education, or zoological purposes.

The woman told the investigators that she volunteered at the Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo in Braunfels and stole an alligator egg.

Jarrod Forthman, director of Animal World & Snake Farm, said alligators would have a nest of 50 to 60 eggs at the time, so it's easy for one to steal without anyone noticing it.

Game wardens said the alligator was well-cared but had already outgrown the space the woman provided. The alligator was returned to the Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo.

Is Alligator a Safe Pet or Not?

Many keep alligators as pets illegally. However, Russ Johnson, president of the Phoenix Herpetological Society, warned that alligators are terrible pets, unlike dogs or cats that return your affection.

Johnson noted that caring for an alligator is dealing with a dinosaur. They have strong jaws with 80 teeth.

He warned that they could get cranky and bite when they don't get enough food. Also, they can easily break through a human bone, and it's not their fault when they do so because they are just themselves -alligators - Johnson explained, per National Geographic.

A huge alligator was recentlycaught on camera breaking an aluminum fence. The beast bent the barrier effortlessly and passed through it, which only showed their strength.

He added that many gator pet owners are unprepared to care for an adult alligator that can grow up to 14 feet and live 80 years. Feeding them is also expensive because they need whole chickens or porks with the bone for nourishment, which may cause $150 a month.

They also need a large area to thrive. Bathtubs and kiddie pools, which many owners preferred, are not good enough for them.

Buoyancy helps relieve the weight of their internal organs, and when the water is not deep enough for the gator to float, it can suffer from pain or even die from pressure due to its internal weight. He added that deep water also helps them feel safe and calms them.

Check out more news and information on Alligators in Science Times.