Tiger Roaming in Brazoria County?

HOUSTON - In the community of Oyster Creek life is generally pretty calm, but over the past couple days that serenity has been substantially ruffled by the sighting of a very big cat.

"Our dispatch center received a call that an orange and black striped tiger had crossed the roadway on state highway 332," said Sgt. Rick Hempel of the Oyster Creek Police Department.

Around the small town folks are familiar with big things that bite, like alligators, but resident James Gilbreath says this is entirely different.

"Yea, now every time I walk out at night I'm kind of a looking over my shoulder just in case because we got two small dogs and I'd hate for them to get out and maybe you know?"

Become tiger snacks ? After the call came in local law enforcement thoroughly scoured the countryside aided by state game wardens equipped with night vision optical gear.

But since Tuesday there's been no tigers or for that matter, any other large predator spotted near Oyster Creek.

Of course, a renegade exotic cat is hardly out of the realm of possibility. Some years back, a captive Bengal was running loose in North Harris County before being caught, but in a town of 1,200 police say it would be tough to keep a pet tiger secret.

"We don't allow any large predatory animals. There's none that we know of in the immediately surrounding communities either," said Sgt. Hempel.

While no pets or livestock have gone missing thus far, folks are still understandably wary of what could happen if a big, hostile feline gets hungry.

Authorities are advising area residents to remain vigilant.
Standing next to a creekside posting warning of alligators Gilbreath offered a lighthearted prediction.

"I guess they'll be next on the sign here 'beware of tigers,'" he said with a laugh.