Adventures in a Mini Motorhome RV by an eccentric traveler, her dog and a bicycle Do you have to worry about alligators at Lake Hartwell? According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and now according to the owner of Steve the Gator there is no alligator in Lake Hartwell. Read moreAlex Murdaughs double murder trial leaves enduring mysteries, even after guilty verdict, Mable Clarke will host a one-day fish fry to raise funds the fix storm damage to the histoically Black Soapstone Baptist Church in Pickens. Alligators can grow up to 10 feet in length and can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds. The species was not known to exist in either Lake Norman or the Catawba River. Despite Leopold's concerns, race organizers and local alligator experts say there is next to no risk for an alligator attack at the event. Facebook: Willadean'sTavern. Late in 2000, reports of alligators in Lake Norman began to surface. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Avoid swimming or playing in areas known to harbor alligators, especially between . Lake Murray1832-1834 North Lake DriveLexington, SC 29072Distance from Greenville: 1 hour and 30 minutes. Do alligators swim in the middle of lakes? Lots of space to play in the water but be sure to be careful around the slippery rocks. While we work hard to provide accurate and comprehensive information, readers are encouraged to check original sources in addition to our site. Charleston, South Carolina, is home to alligators. Nope, you cant find a single alligator in the SC lake. Thank you so much for this, especially the note re: the Reedy River. Veteran triathlete Lance Leopold was looking forward to participating May 1 in the inaugural TryCharleston half Ironman distance triathlon. Lucas later confirmed, after talking with SC DNR wardens and other officials,that the post was a "hoax and not a very funny one.". Are they kind of cottage then? We took a good shower with Dial soap, so I hope hes okay. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Home Posts These 20+ Natural Swimming Spots Are Both Beautiful and Refreshing Near Greenville, SC, Posted on June 13th, 2022 The state's Department of Natural Resources has estimated that the lake is home to approximately 100 alligators, which isn't surprising given the size of the lake. The lake is over 80 square miles, and one of the largest lakes that is available for recreational use in the nation. Your email address will not be published. The Big Creek Trail is closed from May July 14, 2022 for trail maintenance except for Friday-Sunday. No more than one meal a month should be consumed of fish from Lake Hartwell, and no more than one meal a week should be consumed of fish from Lake Keowee. I have been in a canoe along one of the rivers of the Okefenokee, which is managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Find our privacy policy and terms and conditions here. Their favorite prey items are fish and frogs. Looking for the most affordable lakeside home? The huge pool, a large sandy beach with gradual entry, and the 50 feet wide waterfall make it a one-of-a-kind summer destination. Do South Carolina lakes have alligators? Water quality is generally good compared to other subbasins within the greater Yadkin- Pee Dee River Basin. The rocky beaches of the Lake Erie islands it calls home to provide plenty of opportunities for sunbathing and concealment. South of the fall line, alligators are common (which roughly traverses the state from I-20 in Aiken to Kershaw County, then up U.S. Highway toward Cheraw in Chesterfield County). Graveyard Fields swimming hole right off the Blue Ridge Parkway has everything you need in a swimming hole (including paved parking and restrooms!). A video which had gone viral since being posted last Thursday showed the top of an alligators head which was supposed to be lurking in the waters around Portman Marina in Anderson on Lake Hartwell. When he poked it, he realized the alligator was a fake. Read moreSoapstone Church's famed fish fry in Pickens will return for one day, Medical students at MUSC's College of Medicine are reminding parents to start thinking about sun safety for kids of all ages, especially newborns. "We only had to remove one alligator years ago and that was because people were feeding it and it became a nuisance.". Out of all of the lakes in the country, the most snake-infested lake is Lake Sweetwater, Texas. Is there alligators in Lake Hartwell? Fossil evidence suggests that the ancestors of modern-day snakes were small, agile reptiles with long, slender bodies and flexible ribs. Additionally, this is not something that common people deal with in Lake Hartwell. For swimming on Lake Hartwell, head out to Twelve Mile Recreation Area. Lengthwise, alligators are not as large in weight or long in length compared to crocodiles. Alligators can cause quite a stir in South Carolina even fake ones. There's not much of a concern for alligators there and the lake is monitored, so it's not anything for one worry about. ", Copyright Dear Miss Mermaid 1993-2019. What is the deepest part of Lake Tillery? The Anderson Independent recently wrote an excellent article ". Before the lake was created, the area was called Jocassee Valley. Sandy beaches, natural sliding shoals, waterfall pools its easy enough to stay out of the Reedy when youve got all these options! Top 6 Best Answers. 2016, 2018. The facilities are very primitive, but do include a picnic area. It had a chest girth of 57 inches. They are reptiles, don't do well in . Each of these rivers could be home to alligators that might try to travel upstream to Upstate SC. Again, thank you! Lake Keowee is just a short drive from Clemson University, Greenville, Atlanta, and Asheville, making it an ideal location for students. Km). From time to time, people might see them. The state of South Carolina is home to an estimated 200,000 alligators at this time. These reptilians are also related to the caiman, which is a smaller version of an alligator and crocodile. There have not been any Alligatoridaethe scientific order of alligatorscaught or captured and killed or otherwise actually obtained from Lake Hartwell. Everything is potential prey: from relatively small wading birds and rabbits to large deer and even alligators. And so when enough complaints came in, it was up to the DNRto go and dispose of this magnificent animal. Local mom Liene shares herlist of natural swimming and wading spots in and near Greenville. Are there alligators in lakes in North Carolina? Can you swim in Lake Hartwell? . The lake has an abundance of recreational things to do including a swimming area. This makes the freshwater in rivers extremely cold. Alligators and crocodiles are similar in physical size, while caimans are about 40% smaller. He visited the site in December and talked to two of the campground store's employees, who confirmed his fears: Alligators were active in the lake where the event's 1.2-mile swim will take place . The coolest month is January with an avg. There is the occasional hoax that circulates on the internet, such as the one in April 2022 when people were reporting that there was an alligator in Lake Hartwell. But it's the feet above sea level. Lucas said most alligators in South Carolina are concentrated in the coastal zone and throughout the coastal plain. Their venom, depending on the species, can contain hemotoxins, cytotoxins, neurotoxins, or a combination of two or three. Lake Keowee is a prized summertime recreation spot in the Upstate of South Carolina. Therefore, technically, alligators could come from the Savannah River waterway, which is a tributary from the Georgia side of the lake. Its possible to see a Texas coral snake there, but unlikely because theyre very shy. Georgia-Carolina Radiocasting Company. In reality, the decoy can look pretty convincing from a distance. When its in the water, its usually within about 150 yards from shore. Due to the rapid outflow of water from the power plant, this dive is done as a drift dive and offers warm water. Its light outside until after 8 pm, which is great for those who want to avoid the hottest hours of the day and spend a lazy afternoon on the beach of one of the refreshing lakes in the Upstate. This snake is highly semiaquatic, as its name implies, but spends a good portion of time on land. Herons and alligators can be seen along the way, and a lucky sighting of a bald eagle is possible.Lake Tillery is a full recreational lake, allowing jet skis, water skiing, swimming, tubing, boat docks, fishing, and other water activities. One of the many perks to the beach and coastal region is our beautiful natural habitats and animals that reside in them. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and now according to the owner of "Steve the Gator" there is no alligator in Lake Hartwell. Lake Marion spans five counties - Sumter, Orangeburg, Clarendon, Calhoun, and Berkeley. 22 lb, 4 oz. The last animal that should scare Lake Hartwell boaters, fishers, swimmers, and sunbathers is an alligator. If youre looking for more options, dont miss our huge guide Where to Cool Off, Splash and Swim in Upstate, SC. This hidden swimming hole in North Carolina near Cashiers is a little harder to find than others and is located in Nantahala National Forest. The population of Lake Erie water snakes is approaching 12,000. ), The 15 Deepest Lakes in the United States, The 10 Largest Man-Made Lakes in the United States, Whats the Largest Man Made Lake in Pennsylvania, The Most Snake-Infested Lakes in the United States. So last winter, he rounded up seven triathlon buddies and booked three cabins at the event site, the KOA campground in Mount Pleasant. Mile Creek County Park is another great option with a small beach and a parking fee of $5. This beautiful lake is owned and maintained by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and is one of the more popular man-made lakes in the state. Not the first alligator in Lake Hartwell hoax. Your email address will not be published. Ecologists and animal rights activists have criticized the event, but it hasnt deterred what has become a cultural and economic pillar in Sweetwater, uniting generations of its citizens. Therefore, it is not feasible for alligators to survive in that kind of climate. George Perry. Despite its pleasant appearance, the Reedy River is contaminated with high concentrations of harmful bacteria that can cause serious infections to humans. SC (WPDE) Murrells Inlet, SC (WPDE) A resident of Murrells Inlet took a picture of an enormous alligator in the wild and shared it on social media, raising eyebrows. Lake allatoona is one of the cleanest lakes in georgia and is used as drinking water by nearby towns. The lake water body is approximately . The lake serves as a border between South Carolina . This alligator got pretty close to being the largest ever found in Georgia. It was the 23rd species to be removed from the federal Endangered Species List in 2011, joining the bald eagle, American alligator, and peregrine falcon. The WebCam is located near Buoy # T-69 facing NorthWest. So if you're lucky, you may spot a deer, a fox, a turtle or even an alligator. And with the many species it provides habitat for, it is no surprise that there are alligator sightings throughout South Carolina's lakes too. I found this webcam of Hartwell Lake near where I am workamping. Swimming in natural waters, like any other outdoor activity, requires caution.