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Reptiles back home after brief escape 
REPTILE RESORT: A caiman at Bam Rubenstein’s pit pokes its head out of the water to get some air. Two of the reptiles escaped Thursday evening after one of the pit’s walls fell over, sparking ill feelings between Rubenstein and some of his neighbors.
photo by PHILIP JANKOWSKI | Order reprints at www.TaylorDailyPress.net |
By Philip Jankowski Two large alligator-like reptiles escaped from a pen in Noack Wednesday night, leading to bickering amongst neighbors and suspicions of vandalism. The Williamson County Sheriff’s and Thrall Police departments responded to reports that two spectacled caimans, smaller versions of crocodiles, had climbed out of a holding area owned by Bam Rubenstein at 2077 CR 432 in Noack. Officials were able to locate and secure the two missing caimans, but a neighbor reported she had spotted a caiman in a man-made pond on her property. The caimans escaped through a downed cinderblock wall on one side of the pit. Weather was one possible culprit, but Rubenstein and his sons speculated Thursday that someone may have purposely knocked the wall over because of how it had fallen. The wall is not cemented together and is held in place by metal posts. Neighbor Susan Rushton, who lives across the street from Rubenstein’s caiman pit, said the reptiles pose a threat to animals and small children in the area. She also thinks there is still a caiman on her property. “I’m very concerned because they don’t belong out here,” Rushton said. The incident touched off a dispute between Rubenstein and the Rushtons. The Rushtons refused to allow Rubenstein onto their property to retrieve his animal, which they believe to be dangerous, instead saying they would shoot the reptile should they spot it, which is legal as long as the caiman is on their property. Other neighbors wishing to remain unnamed had concerns for their animals but also said the caimans were not a nuisance as long as they remained secured in the pen. Detective John Foster with Williamson County Sheriff’s Department said Rubenstein was not violating any laws that the department was aware of. Rubenstein said he has been handling caimans for “years and years,” rescuing the animals when they are abandoned. He said Texas Parks and Wildlife has contacted him in the past to take in caimans. “How I got into caimans, I’m not really sure,” he said. “I had one as a kid. Somebody called up that had a caiman that was too big and, well, I said ‘OK,’ and we started doing this.” Since then, about two dozen caimans have passed through his care, some of them malnourished or sick, some just needing a place to stay. According to his Web site, www.caimanhunter.com, he used to sell the reptiles, but sales have been suspended as of late. Spectacled caimans, or caiman crocodilus, are native to South and Central America. They are smaller than typical crocodiles, growing to lengths of about four and a half feet for females and five and a half feet for males, in optimum settings, Rubenstein said. They typically feed on small mollusks, fish and insects while young, and eat larger animals when full grown, including fish, amphibians and other reptiles. “They’re not dangerous. Nothing’s going to happen,” Rubenstein said. “Is it dangerous to stick your finger in the pond? Yeah. But you don’t do it. None of us have ever done it.”
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