PORT ARANSAS, Texas — Update: The City of Port Aransas is teaming up with experts at Texas Parks and Wildlife to work on a management plan for Boots the alligator.
Port Aransas Nature Preserve took to social media Monday to share the plan for his safety, which will work in phases.
First, they will be working to encourage Boots to return to the Birding Center on his own for phase one. If that doesn't work, they'll move to phase two, which means he'll need to be relocated to the center with the help of officials. They say this step hasn't been taken yet because it can be stressful for the alligator. Phase three would only be required if Boots were relocated and then left on his own. In that case, he would require relocation to an external facility.
For now, the nature preserve is addressing concerns they've heard from residents who fear that Boots could become stuck if the ditch dries up.
They offered reassurance that the drainage ditch is not currently at risk of drying up, but in any case say, alligators have the ability to walk, breathe and regulate their body temperature all while outside of the water. The reptiles can also walk several miles and even move at night to avoid extreme temperatures.
Officials are putting out a warning to the community as they work to prevent any accidents from happening while trying get Boots home. They're urging residents to remember not to feed or disturb Boots or any alligator.
Below is the story before updates.
The life of Port Aransas' Boots the alligator could be in jeopardy as temperatures continue to rise. Boots is a local celebrity that somehow made his way more than a mile from his home at the Leonabelle Turnbulll Birding Center.
With the lack of rain and rising temperatures, reptile expert Gary Saurage said time is running out for the alligator, he believes the gator will not be able to swim or even walk back to his home.
"And this time of the year, with everything dry he will literally burn up, even if he tries it at night. He weighs seven [hundred]to 800 pounds," Saurage said. "The likelihood of him making it back to there is like winning the Powerball lottery."
Saurage said Boots poses a risk not only to himself but to residents. Which is why he feels the only choice now is to relocate the gator to a sanctuary and he feels so strongly that he's offered to help free of charge.
But local experts have other plans.
"We were asked to join Texas Parks and Wildlife on Wednesday; we were all preparing to leave Beaumont at 6 a.m. on Wednesday and that's when they told us the City had asked for two weeks to see if he'll go back to the preserve center on his own," Saurage said.
Ben Baker with Texas Parks and Wildlife said they believe boots will return to his natural habitat on his own like he's done in the past. However, if the gator poses a risk to locals then they will have to make a decision.
"Again, that is part of the situation we're monitoring, if it does get where that individual alligator needs to be relocated or needs to be removed we will follow those experts advice from our department and the City of Port Aransas and we'll come together as a team and do what's best for that individual and for the residents of Port Aransas," Baker said.
Until Boots heads back home, Baker urges residents to stay away and not feed him to not only keep him safe but the community as well.
However Saurage warns that waiting too long could increase the risk for everyone's safety.
"He's going to get out, he's either going to cross the highway or he's going to end up in someone's yard.," he said. "There's no other way, this is going to happen, that's what's going to happen."