The Coppell Police Department is cautioning residents about increased sightings of an alligator in certain areas along Denton Creek in northeastern Coppell.
Coppell Animal Services confirmed on Wednesday the presence of a large alligator that has been observed in small ponds and tributaries in the vicinity.
Johnny Ahrens, who resides nearby, reported seeing the gator behind his home on Sunday and again on Wednesday.
“My daughter-in-law walked down to the creek and said, ‘Hey, there’s a gator over here,'” Ahrens recounted. “I didn’t believe her at first. We all went down there and sure enough, there was an alligator, about five or six feet long.”
Residents are advised against swimming, fishing, or entering the waterways in the area, and are strongly discouraged from feeding the alligator.
City officials emphasize that alligators are regulated wildlife, and municipal staff cannot remove or relocate the reptile without authorization from Texas Parks and Wildlife.
