Crocodile Encounter

About Crocodile Encounter

Crocodile Encounter is a wildlife facility at 23231 CR 48 in Angleton, Texas, in the Houston area. Its website calls it the crocodile capital of Texas and describes it as one of Houston's best kept secrets, with nature experiences on site and through traveling educational shows. The facility is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. According to its FAQ, Crocodile Encounter is owned and operated by Chris, Bernadette, Bryson and Brooks Dieter. Its phone number, as listed on the website, is 281.595.2232.

Exhibits and habitats

According to the park's FAQ, the facility maintains 14 crocodilian species, with the Nile crocodile as its primary species. It also keeps 10 to 15 turtle species at any one time. The FAQ says several males measure between 12 and 13 feet, and that some crocodilians are kept off public display until they can handle living outdoors.

The FAQ says no crocodiles are sold at the facility, and that it shares and exchanges crocodiles with zoos around the country, with a developing role in holding and breeding larger crocodilian species. It describes the crocodiles as trained to respond to certain sounds and visual cues, which is demonstrated on tours. The diet listed in the FAQ is a rotating mix of pork, red meat, rodents, poultry, wild game and crocodilian pellets.

The guided tour includes a tortoise field, alongside the crocodile and alligator areas.

Conservation and programs

The website lists a range of education programs. These include Houston-area school field trips, school assemblies, scout groups and science nights, a Crocs in the Classroom program, and presentations at museums, festivals and trade shows. Special events listed include Zookeeper Camp, Crocs After Dark and Croctoberfest. Birthday parties are also available.

The FAQ says field trips can accommodate groups of up to 350 to 400 students. For offsite programs, it says staff typically bring 10 to 15 animals representing the four major reptile groups, and that a show usually lasts 45 to 50 minutes to an hour, depending on the size and age of the audience.

Planning your visit

The website offers three ways to visit.

Self-guided adventure. Visitors explore at their own pace. The site says this suits photographers and children under 4, and offers an online park map that works as a scavenger hunt for animal species. During field trip season, visitors can watch tour guides feed animals.

Big Croc guided tour. The site describes this as including general admission, live feeding demonstrations of large crocodiles and alligators, multiple animal interactions, access to the tortoise field and photo opportunities with baby alligators.

Private tours. The site lists private tours for groups of up to 10 people, booked at a time of the group's choosing within open hours.

The FAQ says the public is welcome during open hours without a reservation requirement. The tours page recommends booking guided tours online through FareHarbor, especially on holidays, because space is limited, and the tour information page says visitors who arrive without a reservation may not get in if a tour is full. Last entry is 60 minutes before closing. Tours begin on time, and late arrivals join the tour where it is. For hours of operation, the tours page refers visitors to the park's Google Business listing.

The park says tour times change seasonally. It describes May through early November as the months with the maximum feeding response, and November through February as the months when animals are often most visible while basking. The tour information page suggests bug spray at certain times of year, especially for evening events. Ticket details are on the zoo's website.