Bastrop is located in the southern part of the United States. It’s full of good food, friendly people, and fantastic weather (it can get a little hot in the summer), but what about wildlife there?
When I traveled in Texas, I understood that it is incredibly rich in the number of parks, forests, and amazing natural areas, which include valleys, desert landscapes, and unusually beautiful canyons and mountains.
The state has more than 200 lakes (one of them, Caddo, is of natural origin) and five large rivers: the Colorado, Red River, Brazos, Rio Grande, and Trinity.
Because of this diversity, Texas is home to more than 600 species of birds, including sea eagles, as well as more than a thousand species of plants.
Many of you have probably heard horror stories about the poisonous flora and fauna of Austin and Bastrop, Texas.
Let’s figure it out together.
Many of us have been in America for a long time and probably know everything, but this information might be useful for newbies.
Wildlife of Bastrop, Texas
Bastrop has snakes, scorpions, spiders, and alligators.
And even different wild flowers can be an allergen. But you can live in the center and not meet poisonous flora and fauna, and then move closer to Lake Bastrop and meet all this, perhaps for the first time.
The good news is that although scorpions hurt, they are not dangerous, unless, of course, there is an allergy. There are also several types of poisonous snakes and spiders. And with the oleander, which blooms so beautifully in many areas, you also need to be careful; it is poisonous.
I love Bastrop for the beautiful palm trees, the sun, and the warm ocean. But in such a climate, everyone is fine and at ease, including poisonous snakes and insects. When summer is coming and chances of encountering a dangerous animal are on the rise, I still love Bastrop!
Are There Alligators in Bastrop, Texas?
Yes, you can find them, especially at the end of spring, because this is mating season and it is in full swing.
Alligators move from pond to pond at night and sometimes approach residential buildings.
Such walks, as a rule, end for them with acquaintance with the sheriff’s deputies, who catch reptiles and send them to their native area.
Due to the activities of hunters and the reduction of habitat, their numbers in the United States have significantly decreased.
As a consequence, the reptile was listed as an endangered species in 1967. Over time, the populations began to recover, and since 1984, hunting for wild alligators has been allowed in Texas as part of a controlled program.
In 2014, a huge alligator was shot by a resident of Alabama, Mandy Stokes, in Bastrop.
It is believed that in some exceptional cases, the weight of an alligator can reach up to 992 pounds!
What Wild Animals are in Bastrop, Texas?
The fauna close to Bastrop is represented by numerous species of animals and birds, many of which are endemic to the state.
In Bastrop, there are more cattle than in any other state in the United States. There are a lot of insects, arachnids, and arthropods that look intimidating, but they are not poisonous.
Among them are tarantulas, jumping spiders, crackling bombardier and ground beetles, belostomatids (giant water bugs), or tailed spiders called “teliphons” (whip scorpions).
There are four types of venomous snakes in Bastrop: rattlesnakes, copperheads, water moccasins (cottonmouths), and coral snakes.
The first three of them in the group are vipers. There is an antidote for the bites of these types of snakes. If you are bitten by a non-venomous snake, simply washing the wound is sufficient to prevent a bacterial infection.
To get acquainted with the wildlife of Texas, you can go to a local zoo.
The Austin Zoo in Texas is a non-profit rescue zoo with over 300 animals belonging to approximately 2,100 species.
It was known as the Good Day Ranch before being renamed the Austin Zoo in 1994.
The zoo is home to a wide variety of animals, ranging from Bengal tigers, African lions, and Galapagos tortoises to native North American black bears.
Can You Swim In The River in Bastrop?
Yes,there is even a state park around the Bastrop River.
In the USA, there are majestic national parks that are known on a global scale: Death Valley, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and others.
There are also state parks, which are usually little known outside the country and even outside the states in which they are located.
But this status does not detract from their merits in terms of their acquaintance with the local flora and fauna.
Bastrop State Park is not well known, it is close to the river, it is a wonderful place to understand local nature, it is a destination for outdoor recreation, including fishing, boating, swimming, camping, and picnicking, and it is maintained at a constant level year-round.
You can swim, canoe, explore wildlife, play golf, camp, and more.
If you want to spend the night, visit one of the campsites in the park or a historic lodge built in the 1930s.
Or, the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa is a short drive from the park and about 40 minutes from Austin.
How Deep is Lake Bastrop?
The maximum depth is 60 feet.
Bastrop Lake is an artificial reservoir in the Colorado River basin.
The reservoir was formed in 1964 as a result of dam construction by the Lower Colorado River Authority.
The lake serves primarily as a cooling pond power plant.
Where Does Lake Bastrop Get Its Water?
As Lake Bastrop is a reservoir, it is created by blocking the river bed with a dam.
The basin of the reservoir is a section of the valley of a river.
The water’s dark emerald color in contrast with the white limestone looks very beautiful.
Many families come here to rest close to the lake.
Someone just walked; someone, like me, discovered this place for the first time and took pictures of everything; someone fished; and someone even swam. Walking, the water in the stream was scalding cold.