But as Figueroa and his brother got closer, they saw the gator was dead. It is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities. A 4- to 5-foot-long, 45-pound gator was found dead in Lake Wylie near the Highway 74 bridge in Belmont. Read more top trending stories onwsoctv.com: 2023 Cox Media Group. Also, there is a FAKE alligator head floating around the docks at Papa Doc's Shore Club. South Carolina resident Jessica Plate posted a photograph to social media site Nextdoor recently that has some speculating about a monster in Lake Wylie. According to The Herald and Lake Wylie Pilot archives, DNR officers nabbed an 8-foot alligator in August 2002 on Lake Wylie. The South Fork River and Catawba River confluence is now submerged under Lake Wylie near the North Carolina/South Carolina state line. Lake Wylie monster? Jessica Plate posted with her photo. York County coronavirus unemployment versus the Great Recession? Heres the list. I got outta there," Cannon said. There are peddle boat rentals on Legg Lake. "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. Contents 1 History 2 Other information 3 See also 4 References 5 External links History [ edit] We dont want people feeding it, Medford said. The two returned to the spot April 9 in preparation for a tournament this weekend. One of my twins had just jumped in the water to swim and gotten back on, said Christine Thomas. 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. But first, Thomas said. I always thought it was a fib people told. 3 alligators spotted in Lake Wylie - YouTube 3 alligators spotted in Lake Wylie 36,965 views May 13, 2009 22 Dislike Share Wcnc Newsroom 8.92K subscribers Three alligators have been. In 2009, three 4-foot-long alligators were sighted near Elks Park Campground in Rock Hill, near Lake Wylie Dam. The man-made lake was first formed when the Catawba Power Company built the Catawba Dam and Power Plant near India Hook, South Carolina in 1904. A 4- to 5-foot-long, 45-pound gator was found dead in Lake Wylie near the Highway 74 bridge in Belmont. Beavers, muskrats, and otters were a few other guesses. Lake Norman has 533 miles of shoreline while Lake Wylie has 325 miles of shoreline. You can catch them with various baits and lures, but the water levels at Lake Wylie are constantly fluctuating, making the fishing difficult. CHARLOTTE, N.C. A family out on Lake Wylie this week spotted an alligator. Channel 9 was there Tuesday as officers from the North Carolina Wildlife Commission pulled the alligator from the waters. The state biologist said he went with and without the angler looking for the gator, but I never laid eyes on it.. Kayakers on Lake Wylie near Copperhead Island boat docks were surprised by a visitor spotted on a log earlier this month. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology. Anglers find these spots highly rated for catching this species of fish. Lake Norman, another site near Charlotte created by damming the river, is said to be home to a creature called the Lake Norman Monster. In 2000, officers found a gator in the. A 5-foot-long alligator has just been discovered on the Catawba River in Belmont, NC, just north of Lake Wylie. "Lake Wylie monster?" Jessica Plate posted with her photo. Troopers obtain arrest warrants on driver who blew past the bus flashing red lights and stop arm. "I can't really answer how it got here. Duke Power manages six public boat access areas on the lake. Now the gators have taken up residence and Doctor Roberts says they could live there a long time. Lake norman is larger than the other lake. For the most part, if theyre there, people do detect them.. Its not dangerous, said Medford, who isnt planning to continue the search for it. I dont think itll mess you.. His tongue lolled out, and his wide, square jaw was open as if he was grinning ear to ear. According to The Herald and Lake Wylie Pilot archives, DNR officers nabbed an 8-foot alligator in August 2002 on Lake Wylie. Rupert Medford, N.C Wildlife Resource Commission Dist. BELMONT, N.C. An unusual discovery was made in Lake Wylie on Sunday: an alligator. Personally, Im not one to worry about that kind of stuff, he said. Beavers, muskrats, and otters were a few other guesses, Plate said. Biologists are investigating how the alligator died. The average weight of a spotted bass caught in Lake Wylie is around 4 pounds, but the maximum size of spotted bass caught in Lake Wylie is approximately 22 inches long. Mark Price has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1991, covering beats including schools, crime, immigration, LGBTQ issues, homelessness and nonprofits. 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. The next day, Antonio Figueroa and his brother were fishing on their kayaks when they spotted the gator. 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. Its likely that little alligator is probably going to die here, he said. "One of my twins saw it sitting on a log," the father, James Thomas, said. Catherine Muccigrosso - cmuccigrosso@lakewyliepilot.com. There are several fishing spots at Lake Wylie. 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. The Singular Fortean Society earns a fee as an Amazon Associate for qualifying purchases. Plate told McClatchy news she wasnt aware of the river snake myth until she started reading the responses posted to the photo. Please, does anyone know what it was!. Sold: 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2415 sq. Beavers, muskrats, and otters were a few other guesses, Plate said. He must live back there.. Definitely will go back to the shore (with more people for evidence) to try and catch another glimpse!. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said then the gators were likely illegally dumped because they arent native to the area. Medford learned of the gator, estimated to be about 20inches long, about two months ago when an angler contacted him with photos. In 2009, three 4-foot-long alligators were sighted near Elks Park Campground in Rock Hill, near Lake Wylie Dam. But as Figueroa and his brother got closer, they saw the gator was dead. No, there are no alligators in Lake Wylie. The Catawba Nuclear Generating Station is located on the south-western part of the lake, and draws its cooling water from the lake. "I can't really answer how it got here. It is a Charlotte, North Carolina suburb. Ive heard a few people say theyve seen them on the lake. Mountain Island Lake is fed by the Catawba River, and is the smallest of the three man-made lakes that border Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (Lake Norman, and Lake Wylie).Mountain Island Lake is managed by Charlotte-based company Duke Energy.The primary function of Mountain Island Lake is to provide drinking water for over 1 million residents of Charlotte and . Although they are not as popular as other fish, they can provide a tasty meal. 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. Yes, catfish are biting at Lake Wylie. The wake it made was enormous! 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. Anglers can obtain loaner tackle at the Latta Plantation Nature Center. 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. DNR officials searched for the animal after residents reported multiple sightings. His friend may be next. wildlife control services; wildlife removal; wildlife remediation; wildlife prevention The S.C. Department of Natural Resources said then the gators were likely illegally dumped since they arent native to the area. Andrew Dys: 803-329-4065 . 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. 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. Lancaster County could get $68 million of jail, road, park upgrades. I also heard the lake is not very clean. Last Saturday, she says she saw more alligators, three to be exact. The Lake is also famous for water skiing, jet skiing, and swimming. 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. Jacob Cannon told Channel 9 he was hanging out with friends Saturday night at Belmont's LoftinRiverfront park when he saw the reptile. However, because it is a popular fishing destination, much fish will likely be in the Lake. I dont want anything to happen to the alligator, but I certainly dont want him on the lake, she said. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Driver arrested after video shows him nearly hitting students at their school bus stop. How should a boat sit on a Trailer? 6 biologist, said he didnt expect the alligator to survive through winter. Which is better Lake Norman or 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. 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. If its as cold as last winter, he almost certainly wont make it..