Although the American alligator is native to North Carolina, it is not native this far inland. It was in the same exact spot, Carnes said. Lake Norman has 533 miles of shoreline while Lake Wylie has 325 miles of shoreline. They said gators are natural in the Catawba River near Lake Wateree, but getting that far past all of the dams is very unusual. Jacob Cannon told Channel 9 he was hanging out with friends Saturday night at Belmont's LoftinRiverfront park when he saw the reptile. Lake Wylie is a 12,000-acre lake on the northern border of South Carolina, at Tega Cay. "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. Lake Norman is said to host its own lake monster, which witnesses have described as being similar to a large sturgeon or alligator garalthough some say it is closer to an overgrown alligator. James and Christine Thomas of Lake Wylie and 13-year-old twins Brandon and Chandler were paddling in the early afternoon Aug. 3 when they saw an alligator lounging on a log on the water. "One of my twins saw it sitting on a log," the father, James Thomas, said. I dont think itll mess you.. People are advised that if the alligator is presenting a threat, in North Carolina, call N.C. Wildlife at 919-707-0010, in South Carolina, call 800-922-5431. It was in the same exact spot, Carnes said. He said he fishes about 200 days on the lake. The two returned to the spot todayin preparation for a tournament this weekend. Lake Wylie sits on a peninsula that runs along the edge of Lake Wylie, a reservoir named for Dr. W. Gil Wylie in 1960. The South Fork River and Catawba River confluence is now submerged under Lake Wylie near the North Carolina/South Carolina state line. What lakes in north Texas have alligators? Wind advisory continues overnight, nearly 3,000 without power. The lake has a surface area of 13,400 acres (54.2 km2)[1] (20.9 mi2) (5420 ha) and features 325 miles (523km)[2] of shoreline. Heres when severe weather is forecast, South Carolina running back forced to say goodbye to the game, Prosecution subpoenas Snapchat, Google to testify in upcoming Murdaugh trial, A Florida taxidermist takes clients nobody else will: grieving pet owners, Alex Murdaughs attorneys ask SC judge to bar testimony about blood spatter at trial, Netflix offers sneak peek of upcoming docuseries on Murdaugh murders in SC. Medford said alligator bites are rare, and typically the concern is protecting small pets. Monsters of North Carolina: Mysterious Creatures in the Tar Heel State, though alligators have been found occasionally, 80-pound invasive fish can frighten people by jumping into boats in Mississippi, Ghostly image captured along Lake James reignites Bigfoot fever in North Carolina, Driver arrested after video shows him nearly hitting students at their school bus stop. Fort Mill school district names new middle school principal as start date nears, Prime Fort Mill riverfront property among biggest York, Lancaster, Chester land sales, Fort Mill just named its top teachers and staff members for 2023. However, because it is a popular fishing destination, much fish will likely be in the Lake. DNR officials searched for the animal after residents reported multiple sightings. I always thought it was a fib people told. No, there are no alligators in Lake Wylie. Channel catfish are healthy fish and can be found all around the Lake. Canyon Lake Texas: The Most Beautiful Place in Texas. Bluegill is most active in the early morning and late afternoon. "It's possible somebody was along the coast caught a few and thought it would be funny to throw them in there," said Roberts. A website is devoted to alleged sightings of it, which some say is a giant fish more than a monster snake. they tried getting photos before the gator jumped off the log and swam toward shore. Lake Wylie monster?" Lake Wylie, like its neighbor Lake Norman to the north, was created by damming the Catawba River. Please, does anyone know what it was!. Video shows driver nearly hitting 2 students crossing NC road to board their bus, NC Supreme Court blocks transfer of school funds in Leandro court case, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife, son in June 2021, Man charged with DUI after 3-year-old child dies in Fort Mill car crash, police say, The top-ranked pie in North Carolina doesnt look like pie at all. "I don't want. Simpson, others react on social media after Alex Murdaugh is found guilty, Strong storms, tornadoes possible in Midlands. He said while people who learn about the gator say theyll never swim in the lake again, Carnes isnt worried. Doctor Roberts says the best rule of thumb is, if you leave the alligators alone, they'll leave you alone, but that's not enough for Orr. 6 biologist, said he didnt expect the alligator to survive through winter. "I know this is a lake and it's for all creatures but they're too close," said Orr. Julie Orr has been going out to Lake Wylie for more than 20 years and she says it's not the first time she's seen alligators in the lake. There are peddle boat rentals on Legg Lake. Two fishermen got a shock April 5 while fishing on Lake Wylie. Lake Wylie, which does not have alligators, is a dammed section of the Catawba River, south of Charlotte. Are There Alligators In Lake Wylie NC? If you enjoyed this article and would like to support the Singular Fortean Society, please consider becoming an official member by signing up through our Patreon pagemembership includes a ton of extra content and behind-the-scenes access to the Societys inner workings. WSOC TV facebook feed(Opens a new window), High-speed chase leads to deadly officer-involved shooting in Chester, Man found shot to death inside Albemarle home; no arrests made, 5-year-old girl died hours after doctor turned her away for being late, WATCH: Keith Monday's Wednesday forecast outlook, Body of Rev. I know this picture isnt the greatest, but tonight while walking around the lake in our neighborhood we saw this 3 to 4 foot thing moving in the water. Plate told McClatchy news she wasnt aware of the river snake myth until she started reading the responses posted to the photo. Its not big at all, but its definitely living there, said Carnes, 17, who lives on Lake Wylie. In 2000, officers found a gator in the Crowders Creek area of Wylie and in 1999, Catawba Nuclear Station employees spotted a 5- to 7-foot alligator lurking in a nearby lagoon. Please, does anyone know what it was! she added. Anglers can catch channel catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish at Lake Wylie. Copyright 2022 lakeaccess.org - Sitemap, Lake Jennings Fishing: San Diegos Best Kept Secret, How Do Fish Get to Inland Lakes? Driver arrested after video shows him nearly hitting students at their school bus stop. We have visited Legg Lake Park and the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area numerous times. LAKE WYLIE, S.C. (Mark Price/Charlotte Observer) - The legend of a monster snake in the Catawba River dates back centuries, but some see new proof in a grainy photo taken over the weekend at Sunset Point on Lake Wylie. ROCK HILL, SC (WBTV) - Three alligators have been spotted swiming in Lake Wylie and it has people who spend time there concerned for their safety. LOS ANGELES Kilo, a muscular gray pit bull, stood staunchly by his homeless owner in the middle of 6th Street on L.A.'s skid row. His friend may be next. One person suggested it was a a big nasty snake, while another said it was nothing more than a floating log. CHARLOTTE, N.C. A family out on Lake Wylie this week spotted an alligator, according to WSOC-TV. "It was swimming out toward the bridge and just circling and I just said, 'That ain't no otter.' The license type is Registered Nurse. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. It is a Charlotte, North Carolina suburb. "Wylie Hydroelectric Station Celebrates 75 Years Of Service: A Little History Gets A Chance To Shine", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lake_Wylie&oldid=1094559366, This page was last edited on 23 June 2022, at 10:41. Personally, Im not one to worry about that kind of stuff, he said. Kayakers on Lake Wylie near Copperhead Island boat docks were surprised by a visitor spotted on a log earlier this month. A 5-foot-long alligator has just been discovered on the Catawba River in Belmont, NC, just north of Lake Wylie. Lake Wylie is home to a large number of white perch. The only time an alligator has actually been in Lake Wylie is when someone caught an alligator somewhere else and dumped it here (and quickly picked up by Wildlife officials). Anglers can obtain loaner tackle at the Latta Plantation Nature Center. As in the case with the infamous Loch Ness monster, proof has never been found of anything large or monstrous in the river, though alligators have been found occasionally in the Catawba. The average depth of the lake is just over 20 feet. Plate asked in the photo's accompanying text. Jessica Plate remains curious about whatever it was she saw and intends to keep investigating. Lake norman has an expansive open water like the other two lakes, but lake wylie feels like a really wide river and doesn't have it. Also, there is a FAKE alligator head floating around the docks at Papa Doc's Shore Club. Neither lake, nor the Catawba River which connects them, has any indigenous alligators, although several alligators are found along the Catawba each year. DNR officers nabbed an 8-foot alligator in August 2002 on Lake Wylie. So needless to say we stayed in our kayaks. The lake has a surface area of 13,400 acres (54.2 km 2) [1] (20.9 mi 2) (5420 ha) and features 325 miles (523 km) [2] of shoreline. Although the American alligator is native to North Carolina, it is not native this far inland. One person who viewed the photograph suggested it was a big nasty snake.. First of all, it's a great place to swim. TOCHI GRACE NWAJAGU (License #674737) is an Individual in WYLIE licensed by Board of Registered Nursing, an agency of California Departement of Consumer Affairs (DCA). Within hours of it being posted online, talk of alligators, giant water snakes and a monster were being shared on Nextdoor.com, a community networking site. "Lake Wylie monster?" Jessica Plate posted with her photo. Does Wylie have alligators? Ive been fishing Lake Wylie for about 10 years, he said. The two returned to the spot April 9 in preparation for a tournament this weekend. The best sites for bass include the dam and drop-offs in the main channel. York County, tri-county unemployment hit milestone numbers with coronavirus uptick. In 2000, officers found a gator in the Crowders Creek area of Wylie and in 1999, Catawba Nuclear Station employees spotted a 5- to 7-foot alligator lurking in a nearby lagoon. South El Monte, CA 91733. Channel catfish are one of the most common fish species to be caught there. Medford learned of the gator, estimated to be about 20inches long, about two months ago when an angler contacted him with photos. Lake Jocassee; Oconee & Pickens counties . A 4- to 5-foot-long, 45-pound gator was found dead in Lake Wylie near the Highway 74 bridge in Belmont. "I can't really answer how it got here. 6 biologist, said he doesnt expect the alligator to survive through winter. 05-06-2015, 02:58 PM CarolinaWoman : 10,109 posts, read 10,395,323 times Reputation: 8573. 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. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said then the gators were likely illegally dumped because they arent native to the area. Lancaster County could get $68 million of jail, road, park upgrades. Dr. Roberts says the alligators pose not threat to people until they get to be about 6 feet long, but they could be dangerous to small pets. The license was issued on March 1, 2006 and expires on October 31, 2015. Are there snakes in Lake Wylie? "All of a sudden he flew out his line and the next thing you know, it's a gator," Figueroa said. Although they are not as popular as other fish, they can provide a tasty meal. Jacob Cannon said that he was hanging out with friends Saturday night at Belmont's Loftin Riverfront park when he saw the reptile. It could've been released. South Carolina resident Jessica Plate posted a photograph to social media site Nextdoor recently that has some speculating about a monster in Lake Wylie. This website participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Definitely will go back to the shore (with more people for evidence) to try and catch another glimpse! she told McClatchy. Most relevant sightings happened between 2016 and 2018, as 700-pound and almost 1,000-pound alligators were caught, ranging from 12-15 feet each. Most likely, they saw a log or another object resembling an alligator. One involves monstrously large snakes that prey on people in the rapids and giant leech-like creatures, reported John Hairr in the 2013 book Monsters of North Carolina: Mysterious Creatures in the Tar Heel State.. However, some customers have reported seeing an alligator while fishing. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said then the gators were likely . Biologists are investigating how the alligator died. Captain Chris Nichols provides information on the best spots to catch them. "I can't really answer how it got here. 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In August, kayakers spotted a 2-foot gator near Copperhead Island. No, there are no alligators in Lake Wylie. Jessica Plate remains curious about whatever it was she saw and intends to keep investigating. Jacob Cannon. I spent time trying to catch it, but thought it was either caught or had moved, Medford said. Personally, Im not one to worry about that kind of stuff, he said. He must live back there.. But as Figueroa and his brother got closer, they saw the gator was dead. Crusading vet treats some of LAs most cherished residents: The pets of skid row, Alex Murdaugh found guilty of murdering wife, son in June 2021, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife, son in June 2021, O.J. The Southern Power Company was merged with Duke Power Company in 1927. Definitely will go back to the shore (with more people for evidence) to try and catch another glimpse! she told McClatchy. "Is this your boy?" Rupert Medford, N.C Wildlife Resource Commission Dist. I read somewhere, maybe Wikipedia, that a few alligators have been found in Lake Wylie. Catfish and Shad are familiar food sources for largemouth bass, making this spot ideal for fishing with bait and lures replicating these foods. This story was originally published August 13, 2014, 10:00 PM. Video shows driver nearly hitting 2 students crossing NC road to board their bus, NC Supreme Court blocks transfer of school funds in Leandro court case, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife, son in June 2021, Man charged with DUI after 3-year-old child dies in Fort Mill car crash, police say, The top-ranked pie in North Carolina doesnt look like pie at all. (Jessica Plate). "The first sighting was Friday. Another reason why experts believe the alligator was taken care of by somebody is because it's a lot wider than a typical American alligator, which suggests it has been fed by somebody. In 2014, kayakers spotted a small alligator near Copperhead Island on Lake Wylie, and in 2002 DNR officers captured an 8-foot alligator in a Lake Wylie cove. In 2009, three 4-foot-long alligators were sighted near Elks Park Campground in Rock Hill, near Lake Wylie Dam. The lake has a surface area of approximately 13,443 acres (54.361 km2) with 325 miles (523km) of shoreline, and stretches from the Mountain Island Dam, south of Mountain Island Lake in North Carolina to the Wylie Dam on the south end of the lake. Billy Graham will lie in honor Wednesday at US Capitol, Police ID driver accused of nearly hitting 2 students at bus stop in Statesville, Missing Pennsylvania woman found alive after more than 30 years, Reality star Honey Boo Boo inside speeding car involved in chase with deputies in Georgia, Mooresville orders removal of memorial at park after teens death, Rock band Kiss reveals Charlotte connection to hit song, WSOC - TV Public File Contact / Program Director, WAXN - TV Public File Contact / Program Director. If the alligator is presenting a threat to humans, in North Carolina, call N.C. Wildlife at 919-707-0010; in South Carolina, call 800-922-5431. DNR officers nabbed an 8-foot alligator in August 2002 on Lake Wylie. CHARLOTTE, N.C. A family out on Lake Wylie this week spotted an alligator. It could've been released. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Lake Wylie, like its neighbor Lake Norman to the north, was created by damming the Catawba River. 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. Are there crocodiles in Lake Murray SC? The photo, posted online Sunday, shows what could be the head of something sticking out of the lake, with a sinuous wake spinning several feet behind it. Gator or monster snake? It isnt close. Harnett County deputy involved in 2-vehicle crash that left 2 dead, Raleigh rents increase nearly 6% from last year, 4 people arrested, charged in February stabbing in Burlington. "It was swimming out toward the bridge and just circling and I just said, 'That ain't no otter.' Why fans love it. His friend may be next. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources said then the gators were likely illegally dumped since they arent native to the area. He says that the catfish are biting at Lake Wylie and that the best spots for catching them are near the dam, in the creeks, and around structures. 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. Heres the list. 751 Santa Anita. And other interesting facts. "About 4 years ago, I was out on my dock and we were feeding the geese, and all of a sudden one went down and it was hollering and hollering," she said. [1], In October 1960, the power station was renamed the Wylie Hydroelectric Station, and the lake was renamed Lake Wylie in honor of W. Gil Wylie, one of the founders of the original Catawba Power Company that had created the lake and become Duke Power.[1]. These creatures made their presence known by coming out of the water and sunning themselves on the rocks. Cary man becomes 27th North Carolinian charged in Capitol riot. Lake Wylie is a great place to catch bluegill. The bank around Lake Wylie is cleared of brush, which makes it easy for anglers to find their way around the Lake. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology. Its likely that little alligator is probably going to die here, he said. Yes, catfish are biting at Lake Wylie. He said while people who learn about the gator say theyll never swim in the lake again, Carnes isnt worried. types of services we offer. At the time of the 2010 census, the population was 8,841. Baits such as worms, artificial lures, and fly fishing can all be used to catch Spotted bass. In 2009, three 4-foot-long alligators were sighted near Elks Park Campground in Rock Hill, near Lake Wylie Dam. All Rights Reserved. MLS# 3927733. Its likely that little alligator is probably going to die here, said Medford, adding he doesnt expect it to grow much before winter. The wake it made was enormous! After a local resident found the creature while kayaking, he pulled it to shore and called animal control. Alligators are a protected species in South Carolina and it's illegal to kill them. I fish all over the country, and Ive seen pretty much anything on the lake, he said, the only shocker was it was on this lake., Carnes said the gators spot also was good for fishing. In 2009, three 4-foot-long alligators were sighted near Elks Park Campground in Rock Hill, near Lake Wylie Dam. James and Christine Thomas of Lake Wylie and 13-year-old twins Brandon and Chandler were paddling about 1 p.m. Aug. 3 when they saw an alligator lounging on a log on the water. Lake norman has 49.81 square miles while lake wylie has 21 square miles. His tongue lolled out, and his wide, square jaw was open as if he was grinning ear to ear. One of my twins had just jumped in the water to swim and gotten back on, said Christine Thomas. This story was originally published December 30, 2019, 7:40 AM. How Deep is Lake Superior? [1], In 1924, the Southern Power Company raised the level of the dam and built the new Catawba Hydroelectric Station to replace the original. At first, I thought it was a dog or deer, shoot, maybe a scuba diver!, The photo was taken around 7:15 p.m. Saturday, and the thing appeared at first to be swimming toward her, then turned away, she wrote.