Also included is the portion of Lake Marion in Berkeley County down the Diversion Canal to the Highway 45 bridge. Usually, they won't be seen, as they attempt to put some distance between themselves and the party. Also included is the portion of Lake Marion in Berkeley County down the Diversion Canal to the Highway 45 bridge (see map). “Alligators do not have an instinct to attack humans,” he says. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. There were an average of about 10 alligator bites a year in the 2010s, compared with an average of eight a year in the 1980s. In all likelihood, yes, it was an alligator. There are an estimated 100,000 alligators in South Carolina alone. Also make yourself appear as big as possible, the bigger you appear, the less likely the gator is to engage.”. The signage stated, “Alligators have been spotted in the Petersburg Pond Area. At which time she informed me... Lake Marion is the home of 100s of alligators!!! Zack Derrick and his 8-year-old son, Chaz Derrick, sit on top of a 755-pound alligator they caught during a lotter-drawn hunt in Lake Marion. “There’s probably occasions where some alligators get into Lake Murray but for the most … Wildlife officials shot the alligator, which was still holding the lifeless body of the boy 20 hours later. in Florida, there is a 80% chance that in fresh water there are resident Gator. … South Carolina; Clemson; Gene Sapakoff ... Alligators were active in the lake where the event's 1.2-mile swim will take place, the same lake where campers were … I worry more about cotton mouths than gators... Hey there Tom! We go back in a few days but you can bet your sweet bottom, I won't be in that lake! Alligator hunting season is in full swing in South Carolina with a Senaca man nabbing a huge beast on Lake Marion. You are more likely to see one on a bank somewhere catching some rays in the spring sunshine. Write to Gina Martinez at gina.martinez@time.com. A blog about life in Summerton, S.C., and the surrounding Santee Cooper Lake Country, i.e. The last reported case of a fatal alligator attack in the U.S was in June. Origin. “When nuisance trappers go into an area with gators they’ll often play a recording of a dog barking and the gators will come and investigate.”. “People building homes where alligators live have caused the increase in attacks,” Mazzotti, a wildlife expert with the University of Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, tells TIME. Mazzotti says people need to be aware of their surrounding when they are near water or in areas where they have been alligator sightings. You have 1 free article left. But dangerous human-gator interactions are starting to happen more frequently because people are moving deeper into alligators’ habitat, says University of Florida professor Frank Mazzotti. In all, there have been 20 recorded alligator incidents in South Carolina since 1976, said Sam Chappelear, a regional assistant chief of wildlife at the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. 95 & bridge construction over Lake Marion? You can unsubscribe at any time. An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. HUNDREDS!!! Three men caught a 700-pound 12-foot alligator in South Carolina’s Lake Marion. Treat your dog like you would treat your child.”. The following errors occurred with your submission. Charleston - North Charleston - Mt. His recommendation for anyone who does get attacked by an alligator: “Fight like your life depends on it.”, “Poke the gator in the eyes and try to ram your hand down its throat,” he advises. There's a historical estimate of about 100,000 alligators in South Carolina. Although smaller than Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie is the third largest lake in South Carolina – and, like Lake Marion, caution is urged when navigating in shallow water, since there are many submerged stumps along its shorelines, and aquatic vegetation is present in backwater sloughs. Lake Moultrie was created in the early 1940s by the South Carolina Public Service Authority. Smith and fiancee Melissa Davis launched his boat near Bell's Marina this past Saturday, the first day of alligator season. ** Includes Lake Moultrie, but no portion of Lake Marion. How quiet and that we had the whole lake to ourselves! Gators don't like a crowd. Despite what seems to be increasing frequency, Mazzotti says attacks are still remarkably rare, considering the number of alligators in southeastern U.S. Rt. Please attempt to sign up again. Pleasant - Summerville - Goose Creek, Lake Marion Moultrie Alligators - Google Search. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Cline was walking her dog alongside a lagoon adjacent to the Sea Pines Resort golf course when she was attacked about 9:30 a.m. Sea Pine, a 5,200-square-foot gated community, was built in 1957 and is located at the southern tip of Hilton Head Island. HUNDREDS!!! On the opening day of the South Carolina gator-hunting season, Sept. 9, they set out on Santee Cooper’s Lake Marion and got the job done with a 9-, an 11- and a 12-foot gator. 12 foot long, 700 pound gator caught in South Carolina The 12 foot long gator was caught over in Pack's Landing on Lake Marion early Saturday morning. “Alligators will often reposition its bite, take advantage of that to get away. Alligator attacks are rare, fatal ones even rarer. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know now on politics, health and more, © 2021 TIME USA, LLC. They will not bother a boat and as a general rule, if they see you on the bank, they will just swim away. Perfect location is your bucket list includes swimming with alligators lol. There's a historical estimate of about 100,000 alligators in South Carolina. Florida, which has the most human-alligator interactions, has recorded 24 deadly alligator attacks since 1948 – but 14 of those have occurred in the last 20 years, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data. SC lake marion only the slightest of chances Are there alligators in ... Lake Marion Moultrie - Alligators, Charleston area, 9 replies ALLIGATORS and SNAKES, Charleston area, 24 replies Bugs, Lizards, Jellyfish, Alligators, Sharks & Beach Closings?, Charleston area, 9 replies View detailed profiles of: Charleston, South Carolina. American Alligators in South Carolina The other day I was hiking through the Santee National Wildlife Refuge just outside historic Summerton, South Carolina. Santee National Wildlife Refuge: ALLIGATOR ALLEY - See 54 traveler reviews, 68 candid photos, and great deals for Summerton, SC, at Tripadvisor. Has Lake Marion recovered from the drought? Summerville, South Carolina. Alligators may even been seen in some parts of Lake Murray. Lake Marion is home to 100’s of alligators and they primarily dwell in the shallower swampy sections of the lake and in coves and creeks. Although sightings are rare, the occasional gator does wander into the … Nearby towns include Moncks Corner, Bonneau, Cross, and St. Stephen.. Riverfront Park, Columbia. Community members have raised concern over alligators potentially living in Clark’s Hill Lake, after noticing signage posted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers at Petersburg Campground in Appling regarding the animals. It weighed in at a remarkable 756 pounds and measured 12 feet in length. Can someone shed some information about this? “Alligators do not have an instinct to attack humans,” he says. The death of Cassandra Cline, a 45-year-old elementary school teacher, who was killed by a 9-foot alligator while protecting her dog on Hilton Head Island Monday made headlines around the world. All Rights Reserved. An 800-pound alligator has been captured in South Carolina, one of the largest caught in the state in recent years. Some say there are alligators near the shore line, some say the water is too cold. By DALE LINDER-ALTMAN, T&D Staff Writer Alligator season opened at noon Saturday. Mazzotti says he believes a major factor in Cline’s death was her dog, which alligators perceive as food. Before that, Bonnie Walker, 90, wandered off her senior living center and was killed in an attack in Charleston, South Carolina in 2016. In July, a 75-year-old Callawassie Island woman was trimming plants near a community pond when an alligator … Goose Creek, South Carolina. “A good comparison would be that a dog is like what a bowl of pasta or chicken is to a human, when an alligator sees a dog they see their next meal,” he says. Fatal alligator attacks are rare – rare enough that they attract a lot of attention when they happen. But nobody knows yet how many alligators are out there, much less how many can be removed and still sustain the species. “Alligators do not have an instinct to attack humans,” he says. Just like with any animal in the wild, you must respect them. From time to time, you may spot them in the big water. This is your last free article. Lakes Marion and Moultrie. Should we fear the alligators and can we feed them? Subscribe for just $29. But, there’s a caveat. Alligators, an otherwise protected species, were opened to public hunt by the state Legislature in 2008 when coastal rivers and lakes swarmed … Author: WLTX Staff There are an estimated 100,000 alligators in South Carolina alone. Alligator Hunting Season Management Units * Includes all of Lake Marion. LAKE MARION, SC (WIS) Lanny Crider and his team nabbed a 713 pound alligator in Lake Marion over the weekend. LAKE MURRAY, SC (WIS) - Donna Faircloth says she found an alligator outside of her home near Lake Murray, and she hopes this recent discovery could prompt the South Carolina Department of … She died of a broken neck caused by an alligator bite to the throat and head. 19.3.15. But nobody knows yet how many alligators are out there, much less how many can be removed and still sustain the species. I'm still filled with anxiety! Shizuka Matsuki, 47, was last seen walking her two dogs in South Florida before her body was found miles away in a lake in Davie, Florida. Areas that are NOT open to alligator hunting Hatchery WMA within Lake Moultrie. They don't like noise. By signing up you are agreeing to our, 2 Dead, 8 Injured, After Shooting at South Carolina Club, The Secret History of the Shadow Campaign That Saved the 2020 Election. Claussen Alligator and Deer Processing FLORENCE, SC He adds: “Don’t let your dog run free. We swim, we ski, we tube, we fish. They can be anywhere, but in April the water will still be pretty cold and they will be less active. In many instances, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator attack. How Activists Are Managing Dissension Within the 'Defund the Police' Movement, Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. The alligator measured 13 feet 6 inches in length, Crider said. The Alligator Hunting Season Management map above is in the Adobe PDF file format. Yes there are gators in the lake and yes you see lots of water sports going on in the lake and on the rivers.... Had a great time, will be posting pictures later this week, the wife has most of them on her laptop and camera..... Can you tube in this lake? Stony Bay in Sandy Beach Waterfowl Area. Three men were out spending the night at Lake Marion in South Carolina over the weekend when they found a 700-pound alligator, according to WLTX. Please try again later. Lake Moultrie is located in Berkeley County, South Carolina.It is fed by the Cooper River through Lake Marion and a diversion canal.. Potato Creek Hatchery Waterfowl Area adjacent to Lake Marion. If a person is in the unfortunate situation where an alligator attacks a pet, Mazzotti says it’s best not to get in the alligator’s way. Subscribe for just $29. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our. Grace Eberhart, 70, female: October 3, 1993: She was killed by one or more alligators at Lake Serenity, Sumter County, Florida.