TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
and have seen some as long as my boat. These gators exceed 15-16 feet and 1,100-1,200 pounds,” and without a doubt, it is directly affecting the lake’s ecosystem. According to Siefert, the alligators eat the nutria, which consume the vegetation. This vegetation is a natural and necessary part of the ecosystem and keeps too much sedimentation from building up in the lakebed. “The gators have nearly caused the extinction of the nutria by eating them,” he said. “As a result, the lake isn’t able to hold the capacity of water it was designed to hold.” Millwood Lake was built specifically for flood control by the Army Corps of Engineers, who also control vegetation. “They do a great job, but there’s only so much they can do with herbicides due to the lake being a water supply for area communities.” Aside from that, the situation has created fear for lakegoers and campers. Park Superintendent Lindy said the campground area has no reports of any incidents. He claimed there are areas of the lake where the alligators are more prevalent, but not around the camping area of the state park. The park officials offer safety tips on what to do if you come near one. They also provide educational programs and post warning signs, including warnings that an alligator is nearby if you hear a loud hissing. Penny Arnold lost the dog she had for eight years to an alligator at Clear Lake, off Old Post Road, in Texarkana, Arkansas. She said the alligator pulled her dog, Bailey, into the water, drowned her, and then ate her. Arnold was, of course, traumatized by witnessing the horrific attack and losing her beloved pet. “I loved her. She was my lifesaver after the death of my spouse,” Arnold said. She described
the incident with tears falling down her cheeks but hopes it can be a warning to others. Arnold was watching her pet and saw the alligator but “thought it was a log.” This is something to take note of, she said. “They are hard to see in the water, and often, only their eyes are sticking up above the water.” “Bailey was a Basset Hound—very curious, and it was nearing winter, so the gator was looking for food, and it was huge. Bailey couldn’t swim. She was on the bank when I saw it take her. If a dog could scream, that’s what it sounded like. I just kept thinking she was going to pop up in a minute and escape, but then I saw the water start turning colors. It was horrifying.” Arnold explained that if you hear there are alligators in the lake, do not think it’s a novelty. “They are vicious killers.” Is this as big a problem for other bodies of water in South Arkansas and Northeast Texas? “It stands to reason that if the AGFC alligator policies are the same for other areas in the region, the problem would be the same at other lakes,” Siefert answered. “I am all over Millwood Lake. The other day, I was talking to some residents at Yarborough Landing, and they are scared to let their kids out. A family was fishing off the dock recently, and an alligator came right up and took the bait off the fishing pole. They gathered their kids and dogs up and left because they were scared to death that the gator was going to come up where they were. So yes. It’s a huge problem.” Siefert reports, “They are crossing the highway and getting hit by trucks and cars because they crawl up the rocks and cross the dam. A man was training his lab to catch a duck, and while throwing
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COMMUNITY & CULTURE
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