With the swamps and wetlands in The Natural State, people often wonder if there are alligators in Arkansas. Ive seen several unexpected animals . Over three dozen court cases had to be won, and over fifty thousand dollars to buy the land to construct the lake. MAYFLOWER, Ark. Cole Harken of Conway, Arkansas was out for a day of kayak fishing on 6,700-acre Lake Conway when he crossed paths with a huge and very rare alligator swimming at the surface. Adult male alligators can get to be 14 feet long and weigh around 1,000 pounds. During the cooler winter months, you may see alligators basking in the sun along the shoreline. However, that begs the question, what is the most alligator-infested lake in Florida? The vast majority of alligators one may come across down here are less than 6 feet in length, but gators in the 8 ft. to 10 ft. class are not uncommon. I spotted the Lake Conway unicorn, Harken jokes in the video. Lake Conway is a popular lake, especially on the weekend, . Cole Harken is a wildlife expert living in Conway. Snakes, such as the cottonmouth, the water moccasin, and the diamondback rattlesnake. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. The agency stated Wednesday that the state's 2022 season saw 157 alligators harvested. Ive been on the lake for over 20 years, and this is the first time seeing the gator.. Tweetbot for Mac 174 Retweets 56 Quote Tweets 927 Likes DatsmyGubment Biological Management Options. Stay warm and dry on the ice with these jackets and bibs. Hes like perpendicular to my boat and he submerges, Harken said. And many other species of insects, amphibians, and invertebrates, Lake Okeechobee 9,308, south-central, Palm Beach, Martin, Glades County, Lake George 2,660, eastern, Volusia County, Lake Jesup 2,414 central, Seminole County, Kissimmee 2,065, south-central, Osceola County, Lake Istokpoga 1,321 south-central, Highland County, Lake Hatchineha 1,287, central, Polk County, Newnans Lake 657, central, Alachua County, Lake Panasoffkee 576, western, Sumter County, Lake Miccosukee 472, northwest, Jefferson County, Lochloosa Lake 338, central, Alachua County, Lake Seminole 238, western coast, Pinellas County, Crescent Lake 214, eastern, Putnam County, Lake Weohyakapka 195, central, Polk County, Lake Hicpochee 109, south-central, Glades County. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Lake Conway is home to many major sportfish such as bass, bluegill, crappie, blue catfish, and flathead catfish. They might have a harder time hunting, lose teeth along the way, or the area does not offer the resources they need, so the alligators pass away from starvation. This is that moment, he said. Public docks and accessible fishing is available for fishermen. Be very careful where you swim in fresh water. Harken has lived in Conway most of his life and said he has waited nearly 20 years to see the infamous Lake Conway alligator in person. They also enjoy eating them! A Whitaker Woods user speaks out, Property of the Week: 1880 farmhouse in Fryeburg, Real Estate Corner: Pick up the drill (or dont), Gorham man convicted on 34 counts of child pornography, Former 'top gun' has sights set on Bigfoot, Talks to redevelop once grand Balsams resort continue, Mosca to budgeteers, 'You didn't do your job', Conway selectmen ban parking on River Road, Northern Lights, light pillars light up night sky. An Orlando News Station posted a map of the lakes in Florida with the alligator counts. He didnt believe them until he saw the reptile from his kayak. But growing populations of people and alligators create a situation where more and more alligators are exposed to humans on a regular basis. Some estimates of alligators in Lake Jesup are as high as 13,000, so this is definitely one of the most alligator-infested lakes in Florida. It is right next to Lake Lochloosa which has a recent count of 338 alligators. Stacy Downs: Older veteran's words reminded me of what is most important. He also sent a drone aloft and got some remarkable video above the animal as it swims along the lakes surface through weeds and lily pads. Because they are cold-blooded reptiles they need to regulate their temperature by adjusting to the environment. #5 Lake Kissimmee 2,065, south-central, Osceola County Lake Conway is the largest Game and Fish Commission lake and the largest lake ever constructed by a state wildlife agency. Alligators have lived in Arkansas for thousands of years. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Alligators have also been spotted in Beards Lake near Millwood State Park in Ashdown. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Wildlife expert spots long-rumored alligator in Arkansas lake, Lawsuit filed against Summit Utilities over price gouging, 2023 2A State Basketball Tournament: EPC boys fall to Marshall in Quarterfinals, 2023 2A State Basketball Tournament: Bay boys fall to Bigelow in Quarterfinals, Arkansas State womens basketball falls to Southern Miss in SBC Quarterfinals, Arkansas women's basketball falls to #1 South Carolina in SEC Tournament. Pictures or it didnt happen, he told KARK. Creek channels; inundated ponds; mud, rock and shale bottom. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Harken has fished the lake for over 20 years and has heard tales of a big gator. Walter Davis: People want Trump to return to White House? Depending on location and environmental . An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Additionally, in waters around the state you'll find populations of Trout, Walleye, Catfish, Tiger Musky, Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Sauger, Saugeye, Alligator Gar, Longnose Gar, Spotted Gar, Bowfin, Paddlefish and sunfish including Flier Sunfish, Green Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Tilapia, Warmouth . Cole Harken of Conway, Arkansas was out for a day of kayak fishing on 6,700-acre Lake Conway when he crossed paths with a huge and very rare alligator swimming at the surface. Biologists estimate the size of an alligator in the water based on the distance between the eyes. Harken said he noticed the gator while searching for fish on his kayak. Remember that counts are not exact and some sources vary from year to year. or anything. When it comes to lake life, Lake Conway has some of the most prime real estate in Orlando. Why? Alligators have made a strong comeback in Arkansas, but they are primarily found in the southeastern and southwestern corners of the state. For the most part, swimming in the Orlando area, lakes is relatively safe; however, there is still a risk of being attacked by an alligator or bitten by a snake. Legal to take game fish with spear guns during season. Alligator populations in and around Floridas lakes, rivers and streams also continue to grow at a healthy rate. All rights reserved. Even the best efforts at keeping a body of water gator-free are guaranteed to be short lived. A half-dozen or so lakeside bait shops provide fishing supplies, boat and motor rentals, picnic grounds, camping areas and restaurants. The full length of the oversized gator is clearly visible. It was considered poor land due to being mostly swamp, and useless to farm on. Lake Conway in central Arkansas looks a lot like Florida or South Georgia, with its large and towering flooded cypress tree islands and shoreline. Lake Conway is the largest Game and Fish Commission lake and the largest lake ever constructed by a state wildlife agency. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'allaboutarkansas_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_8',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-allaboutarkansas_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'allaboutarkansas_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',104,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-allaboutarkansas_com-large-leaderboard-2-0_1'); .large-leaderboard-2-multi-104{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}He was relocated to the Bona Dea Sanctuary years ago and lives a very happy life. He made a Youtube video of his encounter, which you can see below. 1-877-470-3309, Blue catfish, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, flathead catfish, largemouth bass and redear sunfish. Harken said there was always talk about a possible alligator roaming the waters of Lake Conway, but without proof, its hard to believe. Watch This Florida Woman Feed an Alligator, Are There Any Lakes with Alligators Near, Huge Florida Gator Eats a Smaller Florida, The Biggest Alligator Ever Found In Louisiana, The 10 Best Childrens Books About Alligators Reviewed and Ranked, Watch This Florida Woman Feed an Alligator Up-Close, With Predictable Ending. I was like, No way! I had to double-take like two or three times like, Oh my gosh. [But] hope it doesnt take another 20 years for me to see him again.. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission tried to remedy this problem by creating boating lanes for boaters navigating the lake. The video is mostly shot from his low-to-the-water kayak as he approaches the gator within just 10 yards, he says. Lake Conway is a 6,700-acre (27 km 2) lake in Arkansas. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Stumps, buckbrush, cypress trees, log piles and boat docks. Published: Jun. But seeing an alligator cruising the surface of the 6,700-acre lake north of Little Rock is a unique sight compared to other Deep South regions. Alligators have lived in Arkansas for thousands of years. Alligators have made a strong comeback in Arkansas, but they are primarily found in the southeastern and southwestern corners of the state. This is that moment, he said. [1], Lake Conway is well known for large crappie due to the size limitation of a 10-inch minimum to keep the fish. Explanations or speculations ranged from giant snapping turtles to alligator gars to sunken trees or logs suddenly . For some reason, death by lightning strike seems so much more divine than being consumed by an overgrown lizard though, right? TampAGS, for AGS Media / Creative Commons License. Would you like to advertise your business to a targeted niche audience? We'd love to hear eyewitness In 2020 a 13 foot alligator in Florida was measured at 1,0008 pounds. Their numbers where heavily depleted by unregulated market hunting (purses, belts, shoes, etc.) Millwood State Park is also where you want to be for some excellent fishing in Arkansas! Various species of mammals, such as raccoons, otters, and muskrats. An original estimate of twenty thousand dollars was nowhere close to the actual cost of the land. CONWAY, Ark. Not a good idea to go swimming in a lake nowadays in Fl. Be mindful of your dogs, he might snatch em up. The full length of the oversized gator is clearly visible. Lake Conway is the largest lake ever created by a state wildlife commission and the first to be created by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Be Truthful. Click Below To Read Today's Replica Edition! Handicapped-accessible fishing piers are available. There are alligators in Arkansas but they are usually in specific areas. The size of the lake was described as, "The completed lake is approximately eight miles long and has a shore-line of fifty two miles." All rights reserved. Every year the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission works with scientists and biologists to count the number of alligators in the state. On Friday, the Sun published a story titled "Selectmen ban parking on River Road.". Amendment 35 was passed in 1945 that required these land owners to sell their land to the state government. Alligator weed flea beetles have demonstrated effective control, but are not commercially available. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. They are native to the southeastern United States, specifically in the states of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas. Nowadays you can bet there is at least one gator in any lake or retention pond. -source. "He was at least 9 feet, could be 10 feet long," Harden said in an interview with Little Rock Fox16-TV. One of the largest reptiles captured in Florida was a 1,000-pound alligator in Lake Okeechobee. People w/ pets are advised not to walk to close to a lakes edge w/ a pet as your pet could become a meal as the gators come out of nowhere waiting for their next meal. Lake Conway is in the very middle of the state, and only about 100 miles south of the Missouri border, as the crow flies. Derenthal-Cook Realty Group at Keller Williams. Twenty-two homes were evacuated, and the pipeline was shut off after the leak was discovered. This lake is not only home to most alligators it has more than 40 native fish species and a variety of birds like egrets, herons, and ibises. racist or sexually-oriented language. The Lake Conway Chain of Lakes is one of Orlando's most popular lakefront communities. Alligator weed can be cut or grazed, but it is difficult to control physically because it will propagate from stem fragments or the roots. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. There was an error processing your request. Or this: What Does It Mean When Alligators Bellow? I can say with full confidence that Mike would treat anyone as well as he has me and my family. accounts, the history behind an article. I first moved to Orlando in Aug. 1954 as an Air Force brat. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Contact Mike Derenthal today at 321-662-8014 for further details. Exit 135 (Mayflower) on Interstate 40 offers access by way of Arkansas Highway 365 to docks on the west side of the lake, or Arkansas Highway 89 and Clinton Road to docks on the east side. On Sunday, an estimated 800-pound alligator killed a 120-pound dog along the Little Wekiva River in Altamonte Springs . Early estimations of economic impact for the area was 51,000 annual visitors, and a dollar value of over $1,000,000 in 2019 due to inflation.