I dont want anything to happen to the alligator, but I certainly dont want him on the lake, said Christine Thomas, a Lake Wylie resident for 11 years. We believe thats the size when they were put in there, Medford said. It is a Charlotte, North Carolina suburb. MLS# 3927733. Medford said its likely someone released the gator into Lake Wylie. 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. First of all, it's a great place to swim. Are there any alligators in Lake Murray SC? The Singular Fortean Society earns a fee as an Amazon Associate for qualifying purchases. The wake it made was enormous! 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. There is no way, this creature was way too big! she said. 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. Fisherman Carson Orellana and friend Chris Carnes shared this video with Lake Wylie Pilot of an alligator spotted April 5 while fishing on Lake Wylie. Anglers can catch channel catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish at Lake Wylie. Does Wylie have alligators? Lake Wylie is a census-designated place located in York County, South Carolina. We have visited Legg Lake Park and the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area numerous times. 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. People are advised . Biologists are investigating how the alligator died. After paddling to other coves they returned to see the gator still there. 05-06-2015, 02:58 PM CarolinaWoman : 10,109 posts, read 10,395,323 times Reputation: 8573. Contents 1 History 2 Other information 3 See also 4 References 5 External links History [ edit] Lake Wylie is home to a large number of white perch. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Plate told McClatchy news she wasnt aware of the river snake myth until she started reading the responses posted to the photo. 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. CHARLOTTE, N.C. A family out on Lake Wylie this week spotted an alligator. Catherine Muccigrosso - cmuccigrosso@lakewyliepilot.com. Anglers find these spots highly rated for catching this species of fish. In 2000, officers found a gator in the. There is also fishing. The Lake is home to several fish attractors that can help anglers catch various fish. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Ive heard a few people say theyve seen them on the lake. Lake Norman, another site near Charlotte created by damming the river, is said to be home to a creature called the Lake Norman Monster. Although the American alligator is native to North Carolina, it is not native this far inland. [1], In 1924, the Southern Power Company raised the level of the dam and built the new Catawba Hydroelectric Station to replace the original. In 2009, three 4-foot-long alligators were sighted near Elks Park Campground in Rock Hill, near Lake Wylie Dam. It was in the same exact spot, Carnes said. Heres the list, Chester County father pleads guilty to 2021 abuse of infant twins, sentenced to prison, Former Panthers site entrance, large home lots near Lake Wylie among Rock Hill plans, Death investigation after man found shot to death in Chester County, sheriff says, York County resident dies, nearly 100 York, Lancaster, Chester COVID-19 cases reported. About 60% of the 1,200 miles of shoreline are in SC, the other 40% in NC. The truth is, Alligators do not live in Lake Wylie. Jacob Cannon said that he was hanging out with friends Saturday night at Belmont's Loftin Riverfront park when he saw the reptile. Definitely will go back to the shore (with more people for evidence) to try and catch another glimpse! she told McClatchy. There are several fishing spots at Lake Wylie. 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. Gator or monster snake? I dont want anything to happen to the alligator, but I certainly dont want him on the lake, said Christine Thomas, a Lake Wylie resident for 11 years. South Carolina resident Jessica Plate posted a photograph to social media site Nextdoor recently that has some speculating about a monster in Lake Wylie. "Is this your boy?" Why fans love it. 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. 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. "The one variable in this that there is that large plume of warm water from the nuclear power plant where the alligators can hang out all winter long and theoretically stay warm enough," said Dr. Roberts. At first, I thought it was a dog or deer, shoot, maybe a scuba diver!. Medford said alligator bites are rare, and typically the concern is protecting small pets. Dr. Kwane Stewart asked as he walked toward the pair. It could've been released. Andrew Dys: 803-329-4065 . There is no way, this creature was way too big!, The Catawba Nation, a tribe of indigenous people based in the same area, has folklore that tells of multiple river monsters. 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. You can catch them with various baits and lures, but the water levels at Lake Wylie are constantly fluctuating, making the fishing difficult. Lake Wylie, which does not have alligators, is a dammed section of the Catawba River, south of Charlotte. It could've been released. Orella. According to The Herald and Lake Wylie Pilot archives, DNR officers nabbed an 8-foot alligator in August 2002 on Lake Wylie. It was rumored to have been first spotted alive on Saturday, and then discovered dead, floating in the water, just off highway 74. The weekends are even more popular. (Jessica Plate). Definitely will go back to the shore (with more people for evidence) to try and catch another glimpse!. Kayakers on Lake Wylie near Copperhead Island boat docks were surprised by a visitor spotted on a log earlier this month. Its not big at all, but its definitely living there, said Carnes, 17, who lives on Lake Wylie. It isnt close. 2. I got outta there," Cannon said. The license was issued on March 1, 2006 and expires on October 31, 2015. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Hes responded to fishing lures as if interested, Medford said. We just watched, she said. Its likely that little alligator is probably going to die here, he said. He also urges anglers to move to another spot. Catfish and Shad are familiar food sources for largemouth bass, making this spot ideal for fishing with bait and lures replicating these foods. BELMONT, NC (WTVD) -- An unusual discovery was made in Lake Wylie on Sunday: an alligator. Troopers obtain arrest warrants on driver who blew past the bus flashing red lights and stop arm. Read more top trending stories onwsoctv.com: 2023 Cox Media Group. 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. "It looked kind of like a lizard; it . 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. On Sunday, their five heaviest bass weighed more than 20 pounds, which is good for this lake., Seeing the gator, he said, just summed up a great day.. "I can't really answer how it got here. Its not dangerous, said Medford, who isnt planning to continue the search for it. The next day, Antonio Figueroa and his brother were fishing on their kayaks when they spotted the gator. Lake Wylie is located in South Carolina and is a reservoir that the Duke Energy Corporation created. Copyright 2023 WTVD-TV. One person suggested it was a a big nasty snake, while another said it was nothing more than a floating log. Rupert Medford, N.C Wildlife Resource Commission Dist. BELMONT, N.C. An unusual discovery was made in Lake Wylie on Sunday: an alligator. Have a look, Commentary: Large or small, make life better for them all on Change a Pets Life Day, SC prosecutors will seek life sentence, not death penalty, for Alex Murdaugh in murder trial. 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 Lake is named after the Wylie family, who were the original owners of the land. [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]. GATOR FOUND: How did a gator get into Lake Wylie? Lake Norman is a little over twice as big. Commenters on the photo had a long list of other possibilities. A 4- to 5-foot-long, 45-pound gator was found dead in Lake Wylie near the Highway 74 bridge in Belmont. Ive heard a few people say theyve seen them on the lake. 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. Are there crocodiles in Lake Murray SC? He said while people who learn about the gator say theyll never swim in the lake again, Carnes isnt worried. You can find this fish on various baits, including worms, artificial lures, and baitfish. According to the SCDNR website, the American alligator, or Alligator mississippiensis, is the only crocodilian native in the Palmetto State. GATOR FOUND: How did a gator get into Lake Wylie? One person who viewed the photograph suggested it was a big nasty snake.. 6 biologist, said he didnt expect the alligator to survive through winter. Beautiful home at the highly desired Cameron Creek commu. 49.81 square miles vs 21 square miles. South Carolina alligators can be found thriving in the shallow and swampy areas of the lake and can also be found in coves and creeks. Also it probably won't make it through winter. There is no way, this creature was way too big!, The Catawba Nation, a tribe of indigenous people based in the same area, has folklore that tells of multiple river monsters. Ive been fishing Lake Wylie for about 10 years, he said. He said while people who learn about the gator say theyll never swim in the lake again, Carnes isnt worried. 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. I dont think itll mess with you.. He must live back there.. It was in the same exact spot, Carnes said. Please, does anyone know what it was! she added. Are There Alligators In Lake Wylie NC? Beavers, muskrats, and otters were a few other guesses, Plate said. Winthrop University Biology Professor Doctor William Roberts saysfrom the pictures and video hehas seen the ripples seem to be alligators. Last Saturday, she says she saw more alligators, three to be exact. I got outta there," Cannon said. 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.. Cary man becomes 27th North Carolinian charged in Capitol riot. In conclusion alligators are not going to invade lake Wylie so there is no reason to be worried. How should a boat sit on a Trailer? For the most part, if theyre there, people do detect them.. One person suggested it was a a big nasty snake, while another said it was nothing more than a floating log. "All of a sudden he flew out his line and the next thing you know, it's a gator," Figueroa said. 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. These creatures made their presence known by coming out of the water and sunning themselves on the rocks. What lakes in north Texas have alligators? Commenters on the photo had a long list of other possibilities. His friend may be next. (805) 252-5894. This story was originally published December 30, 2019, 7:40 AM. Also, there is a FAKE alligator head floating around the docks at Papa Doc's Shore Club. 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. Bluegill is most active in the early morning and late afternoon. Canyon Lake Texas: The Most Beautiful Place in Texas. 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. The license type is Registered Nurse. However, some customers have reported seeing an alligator while fishing. No, there are no alligators in Lake Wylie. His friend may be next. The image uploaded by Jessica Plate to social media site Nextdoor. 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. According to The Herald and Lake Wylie Pilot archives, DNR officers nabbed an 8-foot alligator in August 2002 on Lake Wylie. A 4- to 5-foot-long, 45-pound gator was found dead in Lake Wylie near the Highway 74 bridge in Belmont.