Alligator Killed While Chewing on Body of a Texas Woman

Houston, TX (KPEL News) - Law enforcement officials found an alligator chewing on the body of a Texas woman Tuesday morning when they responded to a call near Clear Lake on the banks of Horsepen Bayou.

Houston Police were forced to shoot and kill the alligator to prevent it from doing further harm to the woman's body.

KHOU reports that her husband called Houston Police Tuesday morning after his wife didn't return from a walk on Monday evening. The couple live in the neighborhood near the bayou.

It's not uncommon to see an alligator sunning itself along the banks of bodies of water. They are afraid of humans, so alligator attacks are rare. ABC 13 in Houston noted that the last time an alligator attacked a human in Texas was in 2015 in Orange, and the previous attack happened more than 90 years prior to that incident.

Get our free mobile app

Texas Parks and Wildlife assisted in the investigation and explains what to do if you encounter an alligator:

 If you have a close encounter with an alligator a few yards away, back away slowly. It is extremely rare for wild alligators to chase people, but they can run up to 35 miles per hour for short distances on land. Never make the mistake of thinking that an alligator is slow and lethargic. Alligators are extremely quick and agile and will defend themselves when cornered. A female protecting her nest might charge a person who gets close to the nest, but she would quickly return to the nest after the intruder left.

A person who regularly fishes in the area told ABC 13 that alligators are frequently seen along the banks of Horsepen Bayou in Houston's Bay Area, but this is the first time they've heard of such a thing happening.

Texas officials don't yet know whether the woman was attacked or if she died by other means.