See gators too! As promised, laketexoma.com was blessed because Ray and Kristi Caperton invited us on a highly educational and superbly entertaining tour of their farm they named Crocodile Creek. Crocodile Creek lies just a bit north of Gunter, Texas. Crocodile Creek houses several species of animals. 

The reptiles are surely the stars of Crocodile Creek, and also Elliot, the turtle. Elliot is a grand turtle, and Dalton is the grandest example of gatorhood. Dalton is a 13-foot long alligator and weighs 900 pounds. In all, Crocodile Creek provides a natural habitat for reptiles and takes care of chickens, cows, dogs, and goats. 

When you pull up to Crocodile Creek’s driveway, you will know you are at the correct address because of the mailbox with a crocodile on it. It is out in the country. If you have never been there before, you may feel lost, like we did. But the crocodile mailbox let me know. As you drive around the property, you see crocodiles painted on the outbuildings, propane tank, etc. 

Ray gave us an informative and enlightening education and a few hours of his time as we explored the property. It was my experience there that we spent a lot of time just watching the alligators interact and sit. Sometimes, Ray poked the alligators to show us some gator action. 

We heard the gators hiss, saw them snap, and one gator even shuffled up to her fence as Ray approached, just like a cow at feeding time in the pasture. Ray walked around Dalton in his pen unprotected, like Dalton was a gentle dairy cow. 

Ray took us to a pool of 12 gators. Some were Cajun gators.  The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries mark wild gators by notching the top of their tail barbs. So Ray knows at least two of his gators in that pool are from Louisiana. Those spikes or barbs on the gator and croc’s backs and tails are called scutes. 

Where Do Ray and Kristi Get Their Crocs and Gators?

A few years ago, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) posted a recent picture of a huge gator in Lake Texoma on their website. Local Texoma news outlets got a hold of that picture and ran fear mongering with it. Laketexoma.com wrote an article at that time on alligator safety and behavior to counteract media fear mongering.

In over 25 years on Lake Texoma, hiking, boating, and exploring away from human activity, I have never seen a gator. Once a gator is fed by a human, it begins exploring that human’s neighborhood where it is finding food without working for it. Its natural instinct is to hunt for its food. 

Ray reported that most of his reptiles are nuisance gators. A gator becomes a nuisance gator when humans feed them. On the day we visited Crocodile Creek, Ray was waiting on some crocs from Canada, but he thought they may be stuck in customs.  

State wildlife agencies usually euthanize wild animals that have become nuisances or present a danger. Refuges and sanctuaries like Crocodile Creek mean these reptiles do not have to die because someone was selfish enough to hand feed them or repeatedly leave their fish guts exposed. Gators have a natural fear of humans.

So, a nuisance gator begins looking at small neighborhood animals and wildlife for its dinners. This is also the reason many state fishing regulations prohibit leaving fish remains on beaches or throwing them overboard in the water. When a gator approaches a human around a water body or follows a boat, there is a high probability that it is has become accustomed to idly obtained meals.

Visiting Crocodile Creek Was Awesome!

Instead of telling you everything my friend Rick Young and I learned and experienced, take your own trip to Crocodile Creek. You will spend an excellent few hours, learn a whole bunch, and marvel at the behavior of big ol’ and not so big reptiles. When these gators and crocs are contained in a pen, they are seriously cute!

Actually, they are beautiful reptiles. We have posted one five-minute video of Hurricane, a baby croc, and a two-minute Elliot the turtle clip,. There is so much more to see and learn than what is in these clips from Crocodile Creek. For the quality of your visit, Crocodile Creek schedules tours by email, phone, or text. 

Ray and Kristi schedule individual tours so they can give their guests their undivided attention during their visit. People come from all over the globe to tour Crocodile Creek. Recently, Ray and Kristi hosted visitors from Italy and Germany.

Crocodile Creek is a 501c3 non profit. Donations are tax deductible. Crocodile Creek appreciates all the people and companies that supports them.

Everything You Need to Schedule a Tour at Crocodile Creek:

https://www.crocodilecreektexas.com/