Pond 'gators' may be a tricky turtle

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Travis County Parks officials said they believe a "gator" sighting at East Metro Park in Northeast Travis County was likely just an elusive turtle.

A park ranger went out to Tadpole Pond Monday morning and found no alligators.

A woman fishing at Tadpole Pond Friday afternoon called 911 to report seeing two alligators about 3 feet long.

Park officials closed the one-half acre pond throughout the weekend but reopened it Monday.

"I'm not sure what she saw, but I haven't seen anything," said Park Manager Robert Davis.

Davis never imagined his duties will include gator hunting at Tadpole Pond.

"Would have seen something by now," said Davis. "Maybe the alligator came out on ground. I'm not an alligator specialist."

Leo Lopez fishes here once a week and is skeptical of alligators.

"That's crazy, I'm pretty sure since this is a state park," said Lopez. "I'm pretty sure there are no alligators. The pond might be dirty.The ripples go out. Probably just saw the shell of the turtle."

A park ranger and game wardens searched the area over the weekend. There were no gator sightings, but they did spot two giant turtles. The soft-shelled large turtles had long snouts and eyes that pop out like alligators.

Jack Raia brought his kids to the park and has heard of the rare reptiles.

"I think there are some kind of turtles that I think they are called alligator snapping turtles with a longer snout and they kind of look reptilian I guess from a distance," said Raia.

Davis can see how the tricky turtles could be mistaken for alligators, but then again, he admits he has not even seen the turtles.

"Possible," said Davis. "I've never seen a turtle that big either though, so I really don't know."

A state official will also investigate the area to make sure the pond is alligator-free.