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Where can you see alligators in Georgia? Try these 7 hot spots to catch the reptile

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Where can you see alligators in Georgia? Try these 7 hot spots to catch the reptile


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Want to see a gator in Georgia? Then, here’s the best alligator filled places you should head to in the state.

World Atlas has released this list highlighting swamps, rivers, and lakes filled with this ancient predator. Here is the list.

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1. Okefenokee Swamp

The Okefenokee Swamp is a large blackwater wetland that straddles the Georgia-Florida line. It has a population of around 10,000 to 13,000 alligators.

The swamp is “known for its dark, tannin-rich waters, lush vegetation, and abundant wildlife, it’s a hotspot for alligator sightings,” World Atlas wrote.

2. Lake Blackshear

Located in Southwest Georgia, Lake Blackshear is a popular spot for fishing and boating. It was created by damming the Flint River and is known for its calm waters, lush vegetation, and plentiful prey.

It is home to around 10,000 alligators and “in 2019, a wildlife biologist found a 13-foot, 700-pound alligator in a ditch side outside of Lake Blackshear,” World Atlas wrote.

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3. Altamaha River

The Ocmulgee and Oconee Rivers are two rivers in Georgia that form the Altamaha River, one of the state’s largest waterways.

“The Altamaha River has a history of producing large alligators,” the World Atlas wrote. “For example, in 2017, an 11-foot, 3-inch alligator was legally hunted and taken from the river in Brunswick. In 2021, a 12-foot, 5.5-inch alligator was hunted in the river.”

4. Lake Seminole

Lake Seminole is a popular destination for anglers and boaters. It is located between Georgia and Florida and is known for its diverse aquatic ecosystem and thriving alligator population.

“Its slow waters, plentiful food, and ideal breeding conditions make it a perfect habitat for these ancient reptiles,” World Atlas wrote. “In 2023, Meghan Bailey of Carrollton caught a 13-foot, 3-inch gator, the largest of the season. Previous record-breaking catches include Jim Overman’s 13-foot, 10 ¾-inch alligator in 2013 and a 692-pound, 13-foot, 9-inch giant in 2010.”

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5. Phinizy Swamp Nature Park

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park is located near Augusta and is a great place to see gators in their natural habitat. The park has a mix of cypress swamps, marshes, and ponds, making it a perfect home for these reptiles.

People visiting the park can often see alligators sunbathing near the boardwalk or swimming in the water.

6. Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a shallow lake located in southern Georgia near Lakeland in Lanier County. It is surrounded by cypress trees and marshes, making it a great habitat for alligators.

“While paddling, watch for alligators sunbathing on logs or gliding just below the surface,” World Atlas wrote. “If you prefer staying on land, you may spot alligators resting on the banks or drifting in the shallow waters while hiking the Banks Lakes Trail.”

7. Satilla River

Satilla River, located in Southeast Georgia, is a blackwater river with surrounding wetlands, a perfect home to alligators.

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“While alligators can be seen throughout this free-flowing river, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, part of the Satilla River basin, is especially popular,” World Atlas wrote. “Visitors can explore the area by boat, kayak, or canoe, giving them a unique view of the river’s wildlife and the alligators living there.”

For more information, visit worldatlas.com.

Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.



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Georgia Football Wide Receiver Enters Transfer Portal

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Georgia Football Wide Receiver Enters Transfer Portal


Georgia wide receiver Rara Thomas has entered the transfer portal.

With the 2024 college football regular season officially over, players around the country will start announcing their plans regarding the transfer portal and the NFL draft. That includes the Georgia Bulldogs, who are currently in the hunt for a national title.

Georgia was very active in the transfer portal last season as they had a good number of players leave the roster while also adding to their roster via the portal. It has become a large phenomenon in college football that all football programs have to deal with every offseason. The transfer portal officially opens on Dec. 9th and will remain open until Dec. 28th. There will also be a window that opens during the spring time, but that isn’t until late April.

The latest Bulldog to enter is wide receiver Rara Thomas who joined the Bulldogs’ roster last season. He transferred from Mississippi State but was suspended indefinitely prior to the 2024 season. The event occurred July 26th, Thomas was arrested for three counts of Cruelty to Children in the 2nd Degree, and three counts of Battery – FV. He was suspended from the team following the incident.

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In 2023, Thomas had 23 receptions for 383 yards and touchdown in his lone season with the Dawgs.

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Will it snow in Georgia this Christmas? What the 10-day weather forecast predicts

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Will it snow in Georgia this Christmas? What the 10-day weather forecast predicts


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While a cold front moves across Savannah and the Golden Isles throughout the weekend and the early part of Christmas week, the forecast for snow looks bleak.

The temperature will be around 53 degrees on Christmas Eve, but it will warm to 63 degrees Christmas morning in Savannah, according to AccuWeather’s 10-day forecast.

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Low temperatures are forecasted to be in the low 40s each morning. Its forecasted for dry weather both days, with intervals of cloud and sunshine.

A cold front will pass through Georgia late Saturday and bring colder temperatures to the state for the weekend, with lows in Savannah dropping into the mid-20s and highs on Sunday and Monday only reaching the upper-40s.

In other parts of the state it is expected to be cooler but no precipitation in the forecast. Athens will only reach a high of 44 on Christmas Eve but is expected to reach 53 on Christmas Day.

Augusta is expecting highs in the 50s both days while Dalton will have a high of 47 on Christmas Eve and reach 54 on Christmas Day.

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Hiawassee will reach 50 on Christmas Day, with a chance of a passing shower in the evening.

But, sadly for many in the state, no snow.

Has it snowed on Christmas in Georgia?

While it’s rare, the last significant event was in 2010 when Athens received two inches of snow on Christmas Day while Atlanta received a little more than an inch.

An ice storm in 1962 affected north Georgia, according to the National Weather Service, which had its biggest impact in Gainesville, downing numerous trees and powerlines and causing power outages.

A snow storm in Savannah just before Christmas in 1989 remained on the ground Christmas Day, and remains the only measurable snow on the day in recorded history.

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What is the average temperature on Christmas Day in Georgia?

Average highs across north Georgia are in the mid-40s while the southern half of the state is typically in the mid-50s, according to the NWS.

Average low temperatures range from the mid-20s for north Georgia to mid-40s for south Georgia.

Ryne Dennis is the Deep South Connect Team Editor for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X@RyneDennis and email atrdennis@onlineathens.com. 



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A broken Promise? Georgia school voucher program could have vastly inflated eligibility

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A broken Promise? Georgia school voucher program could have vastly inflated eligibility


Public education in Georgia will likely see sweeping changes in 2025, as the Georgia Promise Scholarship, a program that allows families to divert public education funding towards private school tuition and other educational expenses, takes effect. 

However, the pool of eligible students may far exceed what many legislators anticipated when passing the bill, SB 233, during the 2024 legislative session.  

The Georgia Promise Scholarship, authored by state Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming), was intended to allow students enrolled in the lowest 25th percentile of Georgia schools (based on the last two school years’ averages of the College and Career Ready Performance Index) to receive up to $6,500 each year to put towards private school tuition, school supplies, tutoring and other educational expenses. However, rules adopted by the Georgia Education Savings Authority on Nov. 18 expanded the eligibility to all those who live in such a school’s attendance zone, even if they do not attend the school. 

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Multiple legislators said they didn’t realize how broadly the law could be interpreted, and plan to reign in the eligibility requirement for the Georgia Promise Scholarship during the upcoming session. 

“That wasn’t my understanding,” House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones (R-Milton) told the Associated Press. 

Voucher programs have been criticized by public school advocates, who say that voucher programs divert funds from struggling schools. Though the funds would not come out of Quality Basic Education (QBE), the formula that determines how much money public schools across Georgia receive from the state each year, QBE is calculated using full-time equivalent (FTE) student counts, meaning that public schools receive less money when their enrollment drops. 

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In Savannah, students enrolled in one of 18 approved schools in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) could soon be eligible to apply for the Georgia Promise Scholarship. The application window is expected to open in January 2025. 

Maya Homan is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY who focuses on Georgia politics. She is @MayaHoman on X, formerly Twitter.



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