Wildlife officials plead with public to stop harassing Houston alligator

HOUSTON, June 30 (UPI) -- Texas wildlife officials are asking residents to steer clear of alligators after a video posted online showed a man wrestling with a wild gator in Houston.

An alligator has been spotted numerous times in recent days in a culvert near the bayou on Monroe near Almeda Genoa in Houston.

Videos show crowds gathered at the site to view the alligator, with one video showing a man attempting to use a chicken tied to a rope to lure the gator out of the water.

Another video shows a man pulling the alligator toward the road by its tail.

A third video shows another man covering the alligator's face and wrestling with the reptile for several minutes before releasing it back into the canal.

Texas Parks and Wildlife officials said the alligator is in its natural environment and should not be disturbed. They said the man seen wrestling with the alligator could face a citation if identified.