Caution: Gators, Raccoons, and Dear, Oh My!

By Brenda Cabaniss

First-time visitors to the University of Houston-Clear Lake are usually amazed at the nice layout of the eco-friendly campus. Nature lovers are in awe of the large green trees, the lush woods surrounding each building and the many ponds around the 500-acre plus campus.
However, if one is not used to the sights of nature and all that is involved in having a campus located on a wildlife and nature preserve, then you may be intimidated by the street signs posted around campus that warn cyclists, joggers and walkers of the dangers of predatory animals. The “Caution:  Wildlife on Campus some are Predatory,” “Caution: Watch for Deer” and Caution: Alligators Present, Do Not Feed or Approach” signs are a little disconcerting.
So, what type of predatory animals are we talking about?
“The campus is known to be home to bobcats, various types of venomous snakes and alligators,” said UHCL Chief of Police Paul Willingham. These are the animals people consider predators.
Willingham says in the 18 months he has worked at UHCL, he has only seen one alligator in the bayou. However, it did not pose a threat to students or faculty. Luckily, Willingham says most of the animals on the predatory list are nocturnal, so they pose little threat to anyone.
On the other hand, Bobby Donald, H-Vac operator at the UHCL control plant who often works the night shift, has seen raccoons, turkeys, foxes, cougars and even heard a wolf. He also recalls seeing a 12- to 15-foot alligator in the nearby bayou just before Hurricane Ike. Still, Donald says in the 10 years he has worked at the university, none of these animals have injured university students or area residents.
Of course, “if some of the students knew what was out here, they wouldn’t walk to the [University Forrest Apartments] at night,” Donald said with a grin on his face.
If anything, the leading threat to humans is not an alligator or copperhead snake slithering about campus. Instead, Bambi seems to pose the greater threat. Indeed, most of the animal-related incidents around the UHCL campus involve deer. Practically all animal-related incidents reported to campus police have either been deer versus vehicle accidents or reports of abandoned fawn. That is not much of a surprise since deer are often seen at all times of the day and seem to be used to living in close proximity to humans. Donald recalls seeing “28 deer between the Bayou Building and Student Services Building on one evening alone.”
So, what should students do if encountering a predatory animal or a run-in with a deer? Willingham says “call the university police department.” UHCL has a plan in place for dealing with animals on university grounds. Once at the location, university police will determine if the animal poses a threat to humans. If assistance is needed, campus police call the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. If it is determined the animal needs to be relocated, rangers will either tranquilize the creature or simply cage it, if the animal is small enough. As a last resort, university police or rangers will euthanize the animal if the threat is determined to be too high.
“The goal is never to hurt or harm animals, but to live in harmony with them” Willingham said.
Therefore, the signs serve as a reminder and a warning to students and area residents that the animals are out there and caution should be taken.
“If an animal is spotted, leave it alone,” Willingham said.