Bob Cats

Cougar, Panther, Puma (Mountain Lion)

Can be found throughout the western U.S and have been occasionally spotted at Lake Bridgeport. Over the years many residents have also spotted the Black Panther at Lake Bridgeport. A cougar’s cry often sounds like a woman being attacked. The Cougar’s coat is tawny-colored above overlaid with buff below. Adult males may be more than 8 feet long and generally weigh between 130 and 150 pounds. Adult females can be 7 feet long and weigh between 65 and 90 pounds. Unlike most cat species, may be active during the day.

Learn more about avoiding encounters with Mountain Lions at

http://www.desertusa.com/may96/du_mlion.html

 Lynx

Lynx are found through out the northern United States as well as here at Lake Bridgeport Texas. They are usually about five times larger than the domestic cat. They are solitary nocturnal hunters. The Lynx will take small rodents, ducks and ground dwelling birds, young deer, fish, and even larger cattle.

 Other Predators

 Beavers

Beavers are aquatic rodents, which live in rivers, streams, ponds, lakes and wetlands. In Texas beavers are so abundant that they are often found in urban areas. According to some experts, the Beavers' ability to change the landscape is second only to humans. If you take a boating excursion along Lake Bridgeport, you will notice that several dock ramps have gates. Those gates aren’t there to keep little children from walking down to the dock. They are there to keep the beavers from walking up the steps and gnawing off part of your house or patio decking. Beavers have become such a problem in both rural and urban areas that the Texas Legislature appropriated special funds for increased beaver control in 1995. Most beaver cutting occurs within five yards of shore, and that the likelihood of damage decreases as the distance from shore increases. Cylindrical cages are the best way to protect valuable trees. Low fences can be used to protect groups of trees. An electrified wire strung 4 - 6 inches off the ground serves the same purpose as a low fence.

  Coyote

Feral (Wild) Hog

The state with the largest population of Feral Hogs is Texas. They are considered to be the most intelligent animals in the woods. Feral hogs are wild swine from domestic ancestry. A feral hog looks like its domestic counterpart. A feral hog can reach three feet in height and over 300 pounds in weight; however, the average sow weighs approximately 110 pounds and the average boar weighs 130 pounds. They eat both plant and animals. Feral hogs can harbor and transmit some diseases such as swine brucellosis, which is contagious to livestock and humans. Humans and animals can contract this disease from contaminated animals or soil. Feral Hogs are mean, unpredictable and quite dangerous. You never want to get between a sow and her litter of pigs. They have been known to charge humans and even trucks! These animals may be hunted any time by any means or method in Texas on private property.

Poisonous Snakes of Lake Bridgeport

Snakes are an important part of the ecosystem and they are especially important in the control of rodents. Many snakes also control ants and termites. Most snakes emerge from their dens late February or early March in Texas and they are very active in October. Several species of wild cats including mountain lions and bobcats will take snakes. Domestic cats will often take the smaller venomous and harmless snakes. Popular ways of identifying venomous snakes are not reliable, as both harmless and dangerous snakes are known to share some or all of these traits. Poisonous snakes live on or near the ground and often like rocks, woodpiles and other spots that offer both a place to sun and a place to hide.

Coral

There is only one species of coral snake native to Texas. They are shy and rarely seen. Learn to recognize their bands in this order:  brilliant red, yellow and black colors. (Other, harmless snakes have similar colors in a different order). Remember the rhyme “Red next to black is O.K. for Jack; red next to yellow will kill a fellow." The coral snake has a small mouth, and is usually non-aggressive. Its bites are deadly, but extremely rare. One evening I spotted a Coral on my driveway but before we could get to it, the snake slithered off into the rocks below the hill. My large smart dogs alerted me to the snake. My dogs never bother with non poisonous snakes, but they will always bark and point at venomous snakes. A smart outdoor dog is a must up here.

Copperheads

Some have bands of gray and/or brown and others shine like pure copper. They easily blend in with leaf-covered forest floors. It's possible to stare right at a copperhead without seeing it. Because they are so well camouflaged, most bites occur when a snake is accidentally picked up or sat or laid on. Dogs get into big trouble poking their noses into holes in rocks! Always use care when picking up or flipping over logs, boards, old tin or other items where copperheads may be resting.

Cottonmouth

The cottonmouth, or water moccasin, rarely strays far from water and can be found in marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, ditches, and canals. It is a stubby, muscular snake and can grow to nearly six feet. Moccasins can bite underwater. These snakes can be very defensive and very aggressive. Swimmers, bathers and anglers on river banks should always keep an eye open for these snakes. We’ve fought many a battle with these snakes on our dock. They will chase you while striking. Word of caution, if a bird happens to make a nest in the rafters of your dock, remove it immediately or you may discover a cottonmouth dangling above your head as you get into your boat. Don’t swim in the evening especially if the water is calm. Don’t go night swimming with any lights on your dock. Light attracts these snakes. Cottonmouths have a penchant for climbing into boats when you are night fishing.

Rattlesnakes

There are nine kinds of rattlesnakes are found in Texas. Rattlesnakes usually "rattle" before striking, but if they are totally surprised, they may strike before rattling. If you go hiking in the woods remember that if you are the third person in line, and the first person stops when hearing a rattler, you may be in trouble. We found a four-foot rattler on our front porch one night about 10:00PM. Once again, our smart large dogs alerted us to the rattler. A smart outdoor dog won’t bother barking at non-venomous snakes. They will have an alert bark (which you need to learn) and often they will take a point stance while staring and barking at the snake.

Poisonous Creepy Crawlies and Other Pests

Black Widow

Widow spiders are found in protected cavities outdoors. Around houses, they may live in outhouses, garages, cellars, furniture, shrubbery, ventilators, rain spouts, gas and electric meters and other undisturbed places. Widow spiders also may be seen in cotton fields and occasionally vegetable gardens. Widow spiders are typically jet black, but their color can vary considerably. If noticed at all, a widow spider bite may feel like a pin prick. Usually the bite location is indicated by a slight local swelling and two red spots surrounded by redness. The reaction is systemic and pain becomes intense in one to three hours, continuing for up to 48 hours. Symptoms include tremors, nausea, vomiting, leg cramps, abdominal pain, profuse perspiration, loss of muscle tone and rise in blood pressure. The toxin can also cause breathing difficulties and sometimes unconsciousness. However, less than 5% of people bitten by widow spiders die. For further information go to The Texas Agricultural Extension Service page at http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/l-1787.html

Brown Recluse (fiddleback/violin ) Spider

One of the most dreaded household pests in Texas is the brown recluse spider. Lake Bridgeport has an abundance of these critters and so does most of Wise County. Unfortunately, the bad reputation of this spider is well deserved, for the bite of brown recluse can be painful and may result in disfiguring skin ulcers, severe pain, and, occasionally, life-threatening complications. The dreaded Brown Recluse Spider is most often found in sites that are rarely disturbed, such as under old boards, in piles of discarded junk, and in seldom-disturbed storage spaces in houses and outbuildings. Indoors, they are most common in cluttered closets, garages, crawl spaces, and attics. They also hide underneath tables and chairs or in crevices such as those found along baseboards, doors window moldings, and in the corners of walls next to the ceiling. Look for a light brown spider, with slender legs extending over an area about the size of a quarter to a half-dollar. Adults are usually about 1/4-1/2”. Their color is tan to dark brown. Two characteristics that help distinguish this spider from similar species include the dark violin-shaped marking on the back of the front portion of the body, and the semicircular, paired arrangement of the six eyes. Thorough vacuuming should be undertaken around, under, and behind furniture. Brown recluse spiders are frequently found in and around boxes stored in closets and attics. Infestations usually take more than 6 months to control. For more details on how to control go to Insects of the City at http://citybugs.tamu.edu/FastSheets/Ent-1004.html

Centipedes

Centipedes and millipedes are distant relatives of lobsters, crayfish and shrimp. Centipedes pose an occasional threat to man because they have poison glands and will bite. Centipedes are long-lived; some have been known to live up to 6 years. The largest centipede inhabits the tropics of Central America. Scolopendra gigantca is it's name and when fully mature will attain a length of 12 inches. A closely related centipede,  Scolopendra heros, occurs in Texas and may be over 5 inches long when full grown. Believe me these are plentiful here at Lake Bridgeport and we’ve killed 6” Centipedes frequently in the house! They are very easy to recognize. They are long, glossy black, and rubbery looking with two bright yellow poison claws located directly under the head. At night one can scoot across the floor and you may mistake it for a snake. It’s almost impossible to hammer one to death since their body’s act like rubber and your club or hoe will bounce back without hardly bothering this critter. Controlling centipedes and millipedes outdoors includes removing objects that provide harborage such as trash piles, rocks, boards, leaf piles, compost piles and similar materials.For additional information go to The Texas Agricultural Extension service page at http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/l-1747.html

 Dock and Jumping Spiders

These are not poisonous spiders but are very pesky and they can bite if you come in direct contact. Some of these spiders will jump. They come is all shapes and sizes – usually gray or black and white. The build webs on docks or porch railings. They can be found inside every boat and they love to nest inside life jackets. Most folks will power wash their docks frequently in the warm months. Others folks just get used to the spiders and knock down their webs on the way to the boat. Don’t use chemical sprays on the water. Remember that if you power spray your dock frequently you will also be repainting your dock frequently. Tip. Before wearing, always dunk your life jacket underwater and watch the spiders crawl out.

  Fire Ant (Texas Imported)

Scorpion

Scorpions are arachnids, close relatives of ticks, mites and spiders. Scorpions prefer dry land habitats, such as Lake Bridgeport, but they do occur throughout Texas. Texas has 18 species of Scorpions and they become more frequent the further west you go. When handled or disturbed, scorpions can inflict a painful sting using the poison gland at the end of the tail. Scorpions with even relatively low poison levels can produce fatal reactions in young children and also in adults allergic to the toxin. No matter how well you seal your doors, they will inevitably sneak inside whenever you open the door. They love to hide under door jams and above the doorframe. Don’t go barefoot at night inside your lovely home!

 Texas Tarantula

Tarantulas are relatively common throughout Texas and their large size makes them quite recognizable. They are solitary animals and can live up to 30 or more years. They are nocturnal hunters and are generally nonagressive. They can live in burrows that are 2 feet deep. Most tarantulas are killed by predatory wasps called Tarantula hawks. The Tarantula hawks sting their prey and use the dead tarantula body to lay their eggs. In addition, the offspring of the Tarantula hawks rely on the leftover body parts to supply them with food. Trantulas live under rocks and in abandoned mouse borrows. Like other spiders, tarantulas have "fangs" on the end of the chelicerae which inject poison when they bite prey. They typically feed on crickets, June beetles, ground beetles, grasshoppers, cicadas, and caterpillars. Lake Bridgeport has an abundance of Tarantula food! Their bite is painful but not too poisonous. When disturbed, tarantulas maneuver to face the threat and will raise up on their hind legs and stretch out their front legs in a threatening posture. Warning - They can jump on you.