Posted on 08/07/2018 7:05:39 AM PDT by ETL
Makenzie Noland celebrated her upcoming college graduation by posing in her cap and stole with her good friend "Big Tex" — a nearly 14-foot-long alligator that lives in a wildlife sanctuary in Beaumont, Texas.
The soon-to-be Texas A&M University grad has been living at Gator Country for the past three months as she interns with the organization. During her time at the wildlife rescue, Noland has bonded with many of the 370 alligators on site, specifically Tex.
Over the past several months, Noland has been training with Tex — under the careful supervision of alligator experts.
"Tex is the one who let me into his pond. He does pick favorites, and I'm honored he likes me enough to let me get in there and play with him every day," Noland, 21, told Fox News.
Noland likens the gentle giant to a "puppy," as he often follows commands in order to get treats.
"Whenever you're training a puppy, you commend them for sitting down and give them a treat," Noland explained. "When I'm telling Tex to 'come here' using a hand motion I will reward him, tickle his nose and toss food in his mouth."
Noland's close bond with Tex influenced her decision to feature him in her graduation pictures. After all, the wildlife ecology major wanted to showcase her passion for animals — gators in particular.
"Every single time I get in the water with him I realize how huge of a creaturen he is. He's a real life dinosaur," Noland said, adding that she was honored to get the opportunity to work with him.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Once you wrap your head around the fact that birds and fowls are what's really left of them, it sheds a whole new light on how interesting Dinosaurs were. They were fast, intelligent, adapted to varying climates, and one can only imagine the what sounds they could make.
and don’t forget about Poke Sallet Annie’s late grandmother.
How could it be that the people who house and manage this animal allows someone so naive as her anywhere near it? And isn’t there some appropriate agency responsible for making sure these places are safe?
“...Texas student plays with giant gator...”
FAKE NEWS - Headline should read
“Carazy Aggie plays with giant gator”
Tex weighs over 1,000 pounds.How do you bond with an alligator?
Leviticus XI:17-19 & v30.
Both use the same Hebrew term “timshemet” for bird and reptile.
Interesting, no?
I remember this photo; if not mistaken, it appeared on a local government tourism website in the Charleston/Hilton Head SC area. Yeah, nothing makes me want to hit the links more than the possibility of running across a 10-foot gator. And better yet, the pic was posted next to an item publicizing an upcoming river swim. Umm...if the gators are hanging out on the golf courses, there’s a very good chance they’re in the local rivers, too, so I’ll take a pass on the river swim.
No one ever accused rec studies majors of being very bright. Ditto for wildlife management majors at Texas A&M.
BTW, “Big Tex,” the (ahem) “friendly” gator would up at the refuge because humans were feeding him and he lost the desire to hunt on his own. Though, judging by his size, I’m still guessing Big Tex managed to swallow a few dozen fish a day, along with the grub provided by humans.
Remember what happened to Steve Irwin and Roy. Wild animals are tame until they aren’t. I am not happy with this women’s education. If they taught her to hand feed gators. Then they taught her nothing valuable.
There you go!
So, that makes it a smart thing to do, with no risk?
It’s all fun and games until someone gets EATEN!
If you should meet a crocodile,
Don’t take a stick and poke him;
Ignore the welcome in his smile,
Be careful not to stroke him.
For as he sleeps upon the Nile,
He thinner gets and thinner;
And whene’er you meet a crocodile
He’s ready for his dinner.
Whoop ‘19!
Hot Texas MAggie plays with future shoes, belt, purse and wallet.
MAggie is female Aggie.
Iamright ‘95
Thanks ETL. At the ten year reunion, her classmates will remember her fondly, then watch a nostalgia screening of Happy Gilmore.
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