HENDERSON – Even some of the experienced fishermen are cautious of the numerous alligators in the Atchafalaya Basin this summer.

Sherbin Collette, commercial fisherman and mayor of Henderson, says he has never seen so many alligators.

With summer here many people fish from the banks of the bayous. Because of the abundance of alligators, fishermen and those enjoying watersports in the basin should take caution.

What looks like a floating log just might be a ’gator hunting its next meal.

“They are everywhere,” says Collette. “Not just in the Basin but also in the bayous,” Collette tells techetoday.com

“A couple of weeks ago me and my family took a boat ride down Bayou Amy to Lake Fausse Point, when we got near Bayou Mercier, just outside of Catahoula, I saw this huge alligator with a big dog in its mouth. It happened that fast. That ’gator snatched the dog off of the banks of the bayou.”

Collette says that this year he has noticed the alligators are attacking and destroying crawfish traps and hoop nets to get the food inside.

“I have had six hoop nets destroyed by ’gators, at $180 a piece that’s a lot of money,” adds Collette.

He also notes there are fewer snakes than usual, because, he believes, the ’gators are eating them.

Those who have gone frogging in the Phillip Canal and Lake Bijeaux say at night all you can see are red eyes. The area is filled with alligators.

The season to hunt alligators opens Sept. 1. Meanwhile, be cautious of hungry alligators.