Okay, we’re at 1200 feet which some … As it turns out, the white inhabitants of the Catawba River Valley had their own beliefs that some mysterious creature was swimming in the Catawba. Read … Considering this, does Lake Norman NC have alligators? Late in 2000, reports of alligators in Lake Norman began to surface. Lake Norman is said to host its own lake monster, which witnesses have described as being similar to a large sturgeon or alligator gar—although some say it is closer to an overgrown alligator. Later that year, video of a 5-6′ alligator in Lake Norman was released to the local news. Neither lake, nor the Catawba River which connects them, has any indigenous alligators, although several alligators are found along the Catawba each year. Lv 5. Add your answer. Developed in 1919 by the damming of the Wateree River, it is one of South Carolina's oldest man-made lakes. “I know alligators in the Catawba River chain in North Carolina don’t have a growing season that allows them to really get that fat. The Singular Fortean Society earns a fee as an Amazon Associate for qualifying purchases. To report your own encounter with the impossible, reach out to us directly at the Singular Fortean Society through our contact page. In most places if you capsize or fall off the water is only three to four feet deep so you can stand up. Wildlife officials believe those animals are likely exotic pets abandoned by their owners, despite alligators living naturally in other parts of North and South Carolina. Later that year, video of a 5-6′ alligator in Lake Norman was released to the local news. To keep up with the latest news and events happening with the Singular Fortean Society, sign up for our monthly newsletter! South Carolina resident Jessica Plate posted a photograph to social media site Nextdoor recently that has some speculating about a monster in Lake Wylie. Ray has a good reason to think it was someone’s pet. River District will be a vibrant and diverse community that fosters unprecedented economic vitality, offering a full spectrum of residential and commercial opportunities surrounded by hundreds of acres of preserved open space. The Singular Fortean Society is based out of Madison, Wisconsin, but operates globally. The species was not known to exist in either Lake Norman or the Catawba River. “It was a fat alligator,” says Ray. © The Singular Fortean Society (Tobias & Emily Wayland) 2016-2020. Channel 9 was there Tuesday as officers from the North Carolina Wildlife Commission pulled the alligator … The species was not known to exist in either Lake Norman or the Catawba River. Unlike anywhere else in Charlotte, the unique location captures the natural beauty that extends from the Catawba River while maximizing … Alligators are found naturally in South Carolina’s portion of the Catawba River, called the Wateree River, but only as it gets closer to the coast. At first, I thought it was a dog or deer, shoot, maybe a scuba diver!”. Those are reserved for educational institutions like zoos and aquariums. The lake is created by Hartwell Dam located on the Savannah River seven miles (11 km) below the point at which the Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers join to form the Savannah. Four counties border Lake Norman: Mecklenburg; Catawba; Lincoln; and Iredell. In the late 1990’s, a species of freshwater jellyfish found in the lake baffled scientists. If you’re curious about how much an alligator costs we found one company based in California selling them for $150 and they’re sold out. But as Figueroa and his brother got closer, they saw the gator was dead. Here's Why Insulin Costs So Much In The U.S. A Closer Look At South Carolina's New Abortion Law And Its Legal Challenge, Ousted Capitol Security Officials To Testify On Insurrection In 1st Public Hearing, North Carolina Considers Lifting Hunting Ban On Alligators, NC Wildlife Officials Want Your Alligator Photos. Two different alligators were spotted in the lake. The Catawba had legends of giant leechlike creatures that lived in the river. American alligator species information Fishermen spot dead alligator in Catawba River On Sunday, Antonio Figueroa, his fiance and brother were fishing in kayaks when they discovered a non-responsive reptile. She says there’s something else those wanting to keep an alligator as a pet may not consider. Melton, 46, was fishing for catfish in Mount Holly when his line went taut around 11:30 a.m. "It was fighting like it was a bream or maybe a crappie," he said. Alligator bites off Florida teen's arm in Caloosahatchee River This article is more than 8 years old 17-year-old's friends say once the gator bit … “I know this picture isn’t the greatest, but tonight while walking around the lake in our neighborhood we saw this 3 to 4 foot ‘thing’ moving in the water. Danny Ray is a biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission assigned to an area that includes the Charlotte and Hickory regions. Plate took the photo at Sunset Point on Lake Wylie in South Carolina last Saturday around 7:15 pm, and since posting it to Nextdoor on Sunday, the picture has garnered significant speculation from people who have tentatively identified its subject as everything from an alligator to a floating log to some sort of water monster. Two different alligators were spotted in the lake. Are there alligators in the Catawba River? There is no evidence that alligator … Later that year, video of a 5-6′ alligator in Lake Norman was released to the local news. “Definitely will go back to the shore (with more people for evidence) to try and catch another glimpse!”. No alligators in the river . In fact, even being in possession of one – dead or alive – can result in a ticket. One person who viewed the photograph suggested it was “a big nasty snake.”. Keeping an alligator as a pet is illegal in North Carolina. The Catawba River originates in Western North Carolina and flows into South Carolina, where it is known as the Wateree River. Outside of radio, he loves listening to music and going to see bands - preferably in small, dingy clubs. Last year, two alligators were hit and killed by cars – one in Union County and the other in York County. The river is named after the Catawba tribe of Native Americans, which lives on its banks. Last month, a group of fishermen found a dead 5-foot gator in the Catawba River near Belmont. There is no way, this creature was way too big!” she said. Richmond, Virginia Helpful answer. In Georgia, they typically live along and south of the fall line (which roughly traverses the cities of Columbus, Macon and Augusta). American alligators can live to be more than 60 years old and attain lengths greater than 13 feet. It rises in the Appalachian Mountains and drains into the Piedmont, where it has been impounded through a series of reservoirs for flood control and generation of hydroelectricity. Marshall came to WFAE after graduating from Appalachian State University, where he worked at the campus radio station and earned a degree in communication. Though we never know what month we will have the chance to go, my wife, Liz, and I like to do a once a year kayak trip up the Catawba River at the west end of Lake James in McDowell County, North Carolina. There are no alligators in the banana river. There’s good birding there and our best chance to see a Prothonotary Warbler without leaving the mountains. These creatures made their presence known by coming out of the water and sunning themselves on the rocks. over a year ago Problem with this answer? We welcome stories and community members from anywhere people experience the impossible. Plate asked in the photo's accompanying text. 12715 Augusta Road, Lavonia, GA 30553 Phone: 706-356-0921 Fax: 706-356-5921 Are there alligators in Lake Hartwell, SC? RANGE Alligators occur from the southern tip of Texas to the northeastern part of North Carolina. 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It's illegal to keep alligators in North Carolina without a permit. It is also known as the “inland sea” as it boats 520 miles of shoreline and a surface area of more than 32,475 acres, making it almost as large as the other ten lakes on the Catawba River combined. On Tuesday officers from the North Carolina Wildlife Commission pulled the alligator from the waters. The 5-foot alligator that was found in the Catawba River in February. Please, does anyone know what it was!” she added. Reviewed this attraction. “Lake Wylie monster?" The Native Americans were not the only ones who believed that a monster lived in the Santee River system, of which the Catawba River is a major part. The Catawba Indians believed that monstrously large snakes inhabited the Catawba River, and preserved stories of these large animals killing people on the rocks of the rapids near what is now Charlotte. alligator populations. “They can live well over 50 years. They said gators are natural in the Catawba River near Lake Wateree, but getting that far … N.C wildlife biologist Danny Ray says the alligator found in the Catawba River was fat, leading him to believe it was kept as a pet. The image uploaded by Jessica Plate to social media site Nextdoor. "When I got it on the bank I didn't really know what it was; … University of Georgia, SREL. In their language, they call themselv… POPULATION There are approximately 200,000-250,000 alligators in the state of Georgia. Are there alligators in the Catawba River? WFAE Small Business Challenge – 12/9/2020, Figures From Charlotte's Black History Are Candidates To Replace Barringer As School Name. It has 181 miles (291 km) of shoreline and includes Lake Wateree State Park, a bird refuge, and Shaw Air Force Base Recreation … Someone was feeding it somehow.”. Alicia Davis, the NC Wildlife Commission’s alligator management plan coordinator, says residents here may be buying them in other states where it’s legal, like Florida. over a year ago Problem with this answer? Lake Wylie, like its neighbor Lake Norman to the north, was created by damming the Catawba River. Click to see full answer Also, are there alligators in Lake Norman in North Carolina? Late in 2000, reports of alligators in Lake Norman began to surface. An alligator rests in its habitat at Catawba Science Center. Lake Wateree is a 21 square miles (50 km 2) reservoir in Kershaw, Fairfield, and Lancaster counties, South Carolina, in the United States. 90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines The river is approximately 220 miles (350 km) long. Hickory is unlikely to become an alligator haven despite two sightings in Lake Hickory in the past two weeks, said nature expert Bruce Beerbower. Alligators are found naturally in South Carolina’s portion of the Catawba River, called the Wateree River, but only as it gets closer to the coast. So it’s a long commitment,” says Davis. As for Plate, whatever she saw, she doesn’t believe it was a semi aquatic mammal as some have suggested, and she’ll continue to return to Lake Wylie, hoping to spot the creature again. Two different alligators were spotted in the lake. “The wake it made was enormous! No one was able to explain where the creatures came from or how they were … Late in 2000, reports of alligators in Lake Norman began to surface. Votes. There are only two species of alligator, the American alligator occurring in the southern United States, and the smaller Chinese alligator from eastern China. (Jessica Plate). Neither lake, nor the Catawba River which connects them, has any indigenous alligators, although several alligators are found along the Catawba each year. Wildlife officials believe those animals are likely exotic pets abandoned by their owners, despite alligators living naturally in other parts of North and South Carolina. North Carolina wildlife officers find 1 or 2 gators a year outside of their natural habitat. “Beavers, muskrats, and otters were a few other guesses. 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg. He’s the one who was called in to deal with the alligator in the Catawba River. It’s illegal to keep alligators in North Carolina without a permit. “They usually start out little and cute, but then after a few years they get bigger, they require much larger enclosures and, unfortunately, if that person chooses to release it in an area outside of their natural range, it’s not going to survive a cold winter,” says Davis. 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