Sunday, August 30, 2009

Brazos Bend State Park


The Idle Monkey Trainer has relocated for a few months to America's fourth largest, and according to fitness magazine, sixth fattest city. Always in persuit of monkeys, and armed with the knowledge that Texas is a monkey-less place, I nevertheless ventured out to Brazos Bend to see what wildlife dwells.

This 50,000 acre wildlife refuge lies just an hour south of Houston, and is located on what used to be a part of the George Ranch. The bayous and lakes in the park are famously home to a multitude of American Aligators.

As with many a Texas afternoon, an oppressive heat was followed quickly by a thunderstorm, which quickly moved on, leaving in its wake soaked bipeds and their dogs. Wet poodle, apparently, will entice these normally stationary hunters to venture out of the water.


No dogs were harmed.

Wandering through the park with a friend who had been there frequently, but never witnessed any of the aligators in actual stalking behavior, I endevoured to find out how many of the creatures lived in the park. He responded that on his previous visits he had seen anywhere from three to 60 in one day, and so positited the true number to be in this range. I saw maybe two dozen, including the one-year-olds at the visitor center. (Which you can touch, while the very energetic volunteer tells you all about the life of the American Aligator in the park.)

The Idle Monkey Trainer was also fortunate enough to stop by the visitor center at the date and time that the snakes received their fortnightly feeding.


A return visit may be necessary. Though, I think I'll have to wait a couple weeks to be so fortunate.