ROCKPORT, Texas —
On Tuesday just one day after 3NEWS reported on the relocation efforts for 'Gabe' the alligator, organizers reached their GoFundMe goal to legally relocated the gator through Texas Parks and Wildlife!
Below is Monday's story, before the donation goal was met.
An alligator in a neighborhood pond is causing some concern after birds began vanishing in Rockport.
Gabe the alligator moved to the pond unexpectedly a year ago. Resident Annie Dabbs said the neighborhood believes Gabe lived in Copano Bay. Now, she is trying to raise money to relocate him.
"He was a lot smaller," Dabbs said. "I think he was a foot and a half when he showed up, but in that major flooding, he made his way into our pond, and he's been living here with us ever since."
The neighborhood said they love Gabe but he has made an impact on the environment. The pond was once home to several species of birds.
"But since Gabe showed up, birds started disappearing one by one and we connected the dots; we realized he was eating the birds," Dabbs said.
Neighbor Diedra Amaya believes that in order to save the habitat for future birds, Gabe has to be removed.
"The birding around Rockport is very important to us and I can't find where keeping the alligator on property is beneficial at all," Amaya said.
The Wings Rescue Center specializes in rehabilitating birds. They once used the pond as a release site where birds could live a long life. However, Dabbs said they are not specialized to help with the relocation of an alligator like Gabe.
"There is only a few people in the state of Texas through Texas Parks and Wildlife who are certified to do it, and that's the only legal way to do it, with one of these certified people," she said.
Dabbs began a GoFundMe to help raise money for Gabe's relocation.
"They charge a very expensive flat fee to do it and they are all far away and charge mileage to get here," Dabbs said. "That's why it's going to be $1,200."
She said the relocation of Gabe is important because he's done a lot of ecological harm to the area, but also so he can continue to live a long healthy life.
"The best humane way possible," Dabbs said. "Just give him a good life where he can do a lot of good."
To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.
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