There have not been any Alligatoridaeâthe scientific order of alligatorsâcaught or captured and killed or otherwise actually obtained from Lake Hartwell.
Where is this lake?
Lake Hartwell is a freshwater lake located in South Carolina and Georgia.
This is a human construction that was made as a reservoir to hold water out of three centrally located major rivers and waterways.
The lake is over 80 square miles, and one of the largest lakes that is available for recreational use in the nation.
Fishing is a popular sport on Lake Hartwell, which is well stocked with several different fish, including largemouth bass and walleye.
But are there alligators in Lake Hartwell?
That is the question I am here to answer today.
Contents
- So… Are There Alligators in Lake Hartwell?
- Is it Safe to Swim in Lake Hartwell?
- Interesting Alligator Facts About Lake Hartwell
- 3 Safety Tips for Swimming in Alligator-Infested Waters
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Should I be worried about alligators as a resident living in Lake Hartwell?
- Are there camping spaces at Lake Hartwell?
- What should Lake Hartwell residents do if they see an alligator in their backyard?
- How could the Savannah River bring alligators to Lake Hartwell?
- Are there alligators in the Savannah River?
So… Are There Alligators in Lake Hartwell?
Nope, you can’t find a single alligator in the SC lake.
The reason has all to do with the geographical location of Lake Hartwell.
“For the most part, the Upstate is spared from South Carolina reptile nuisances.
The line is drawn south of the Lakelands, between the border of Aiken and Edgefield counties, and continues south of Saluda, Newberry, Fairfield, and Lancaster counties,” according to the Index-Journal.
The area in the Upstate is where Lake Hartwell is located in Hartwell, South Carolina.
It is a city in the northwest corner of the state near Anderson, South Carolina, and the Georgia line in a mountainous region.
Lake Hartwell also falls in the southern Appalachian Mountains, where there are natural valleys that create lakes and mountains that generate snow runoff.
This makes the freshwater in rivers extremely cold.
If you are an alligator, you need warm water because it is a cold-blooded animal.
Cold water could cause an alligator to freeze and become an alligator popsicle.
In other words, there’s no way an alligator could live in Lake Hartwell even if it did make its way to that northern part of the state.
South Carolina, on the eastern side of the state, is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean.
The coastline stretches for approximately one-fifth of the state’s border.
This does allow for saltwater crocodiles and caimans to travel along the ocean currents and into the waterways of South Carolina.
Yet alligators are freshwater reptiles unlike their relatives, so they are not capable of making it in the same waterways.
Therefore, it is not feasible for alligators to survive in that kind of climate.
To further clarify this geological fact, the news station WYFF 4 reports, “The American alligator habitat line is the Fall Line Sandhills regionâŠIt runs through South Carolina, roughly diagonally through the state following U.S. Route 1 and Interstate 20, passing through Camden and Aiken. You can find alligators and cottonmouths east and south of this line, but not above it.”
Alligator Species in Lake Hartwell
The American alligator would be the only type seen at Lake Hartwellâif one were ever released there illegally.
This alligator species is common in North America and the southeastern states of the US.
Is it Safe to Swim in Lake Hartwell?
Yes, it is perfectly safe to swim in Lake Hartwell.
The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism states that the public is permitted to swim freely in the lake.
According to the department, âYes, swimming is allowed. There is not a designated swimming area or any lifeguards, so swimming is at your own risk.â
The lake is part of Lake Hartwell State Park that is managed by the state department.
This includes swimming and the park is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
Additionally, there are 21 swim beaches at this lake, making this one of the top most visited public swimming lakes in South Carolina.
Interesting Alligator Facts About Lake Hartwell
There is the occasional hoax that circulates on the internet, such as the one in April 2022 when people were reporting that there was an alligator in Lake Hartwell.
However, this has been determined to be just a hoax and no solid proof has been provided regarding the alligators in Lake Hartwell.
How could an alligator end up in Lake Hartwell?
Simply enough, if someone captured an alligator in Georgia or Florida and transported it illegally into South Carolina, they would be able to release it into the waters of Lake Hartwell.
However, this is against the law.
Additionally, this is not something that common people deal with in Lake Hartwell.
Therefore, the only time that you will hear about an alligator in this part of the state would be if you are talking about a hoax or a very dangerous situation.
This is dangerous for the alligator, which is an animal that is not capable of surviving in cold temperatures.
Clearly, it would also be dangerous for the people who are around the alligator.
Alligators vs. Crocodiles
Did you know that alligators and crocodiles are not the same families of reptiles?
The two are close cousins of the same scientific orderâand they look almost identical.
Even though alligators and crocodiles are as old as dinosaurs, there are differences that you should be wary of when identifying these animals in Lake Hartwell.
Alligators and crocodiles are part of the same Crocodylia order.
These reptilians are also related to the caiman, which is a smaller version of an alligator and crocodile.
However, âcrocodiles are from the Crocodylidae family, while alligators come from the Alligatordae family,â states Everglades Holiday Park.
The differences in families have to do with the physical traits of the two distinct types of reptiles.
The primary way to tell the alligator and crocodile apart physically is through their snout.
A crocodile has a pointed snout and alligators have rounded U-shaped snouts.
Also, if you cut off an alligatorâs tail, it will regenerate a new one like it is a starfish.
However, crocodiles cannot regrow a tail that is lost.
Lengthwise, alligators are not as large in weight or long in length compared to crocodiles.
A crocodile can grow to an average of 16 feet compared to an eight-foot-long average-sized alligator.
Crocodiles also have certain types that are saltwater crocodiles, while alligators cannot live in saltwater.
As you can see, there are actually many differences between crocodiles and alligators!
3 Safety Tips for Swimming in Alligator-Infested Waters
- When swimming with alligators, avoid deep-sea diving. The lower down you go into waters teeming with alligators, the more likely you are to be caught and drowned by one.
- Swim with friends or a lifeguard in order to avoid being in the water with alligators that could potentially drag you underwater on a death roll. This would kill you before anyone could save you if you were to be alone during an attack by an alligator.
- Keep your eyes open and your head above water. If you cannot see an alligator, you have a lower chance of escaping in case of an alligator attack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I be worried about alligators as a resident living in Lake Hartwell?
The last animal that should scare Lake Hartwell boaters, fishers, swimmers, and sunbathers is an alligator.
This reptile is not common or capable of being in this South Carolina Upstate lake.
However, there are three rivers that flow into Lake Hartwell.
These include the Savannah River, Seneca River, and Tugaloo River.
Each of these rivers could be home to alligators that might try to travel upstream to Upstate SC.
Since the lake is actually a reservoir that was humanly built, there are fewer opportunities that an alligator would accidentally traverse streams and rivers to enter the waters here.
Any sightings of alligators will be noted and taken care of by the DNR or park rangers.
Otherwise, engineers should have a plan on how to protect reptiles like alligators and crocodiles from getting into the water through any channels.
Are there camping spaces at Lake Hartwell?
Yes, you can go camping at Lake Hartwell.
The lake is the property of the state and features Lake Hartwell State Park.
What should Lake Hartwell residents do if they see an alligator in their backyard?
You may be able to receive state assistance if you see an alligator in your backyard at Lake Hartwell.
In South Carolina, the Code of Laws by the SC State House states that it is prohibitive to release an alligator in the state.
However, if an SC resident or business owner discovers an alligator habitat in their backyard, they may be able to participate in a special program.
This program supports the sustainability of alligators in South Carolina.
According to Bill S 185, âA landowner or lessee of the property on which alligators occur may apply to the department for a permit to participate in the Private Lands Alligator Program.
On those private lands, the season for hunting and taking alligators is from September first through May 31st.â
Yet, alas, Lake Hartwell does not fall under the typical territory for alligators to live in South Carolina.
Therefore, it is very unlikely that a resident or person in South Carolina will find a nest of alligator hatchlings any time soon to report.
How could the Savannah River bring alligators to Lake Hartwell?
Savannah is a city in Georgia, and it is located along the coast on the southeastern border.
The city and the Savannah River start only a hundred miles east of the Okefenokee Swamp.
The swamp is fully inhabited by alligators.
I have been in a canoe along one of the rivers of the Okefenokee, which is managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Here are hundreds of American alligators all living in the sulphuric waters of the swamp.
Visitors can rent a boat and paddle peacefully along with the animals, which is a common practice for state park visitors.
In fact, the only real rule they hadâalong with a full sheet of corresponding rules that had to be signedâwas that you could not jump in the water if you dropped your cell phone.
This was around 2010 when more expensive smartphones were making their heyday.
Evidently, as the park ranger explained, more than one person had dropped their phone in the waters with the wild alligators.
And then they jumped in to retrieve their phone, much to their I am assuming demise, but they did not specify any further details.
By the way, it is perfectly safe according to the GaDNR to go paddling in a river infested with alligators.
Swimming, though, is not advised.
We did not get attacked and were not fearful that we would be eaten.
The alligators were along the banks and in the water but not trying to attack or bite at anyone or their boats.
As a result of the high numbers of wild alligators in the Okefenokee Swamp and the Savannah River, you would suspect that alligators could travel to Lake Hartwell through the waterways.
Yet, as noted, the weather is just not friendly to these reptilians so they are frozen out.
Are there alligators in the Savannah River?
Yes, the Savannah River is known for alligators.
This is based on extensive alligator research on the river.
Therefore, technically, alligators could come from the Savannah River waterway, which is a tributary from the Georgia side of the lake.
There has been a confirmed killing of an alligator in Hartwell in the late 90âs. Seneca Journal ran the article for verification. It is was a little more than 100 yards away from our dock. It was a big shock to learn that a 7ft alligator had been killed where we had been swimming. Just wanted you to know.
This is true. My brother and neighbors saw it. They had contacted the SC DNR, but they were unable to catch it at the time. I donât understand how this alligator came to be killed by someone.