Beware of These 4 Dangerous Animals Found in Georgia’s Lakes and Rivers

Georgia is found in the southeastern region of the United States. Like many other coastal states, Georgia has many rivers, lakes, and swamps, especially near the Atlantic Ocean on its eastern side. With all those bodies of water comes a lot of wildlife diversity. While many of the critters in Georgia’s waterways are friendly, some of them pose a threat. Discover the most dangerous animals found in Georgia’s lakes and rivers and see why it is so important that you avoid them!

The 4 Most Dangerous Animals Found in Georgia’s Lakes and Rivers

Georgia is home to a wide variety of different potentially dangerous creatures. Venomous reptiles like coral snakes live in the coastal plains and large mammals like black bears lurk in the swamps and forests. However, some animals are found in and around Georgia’s lakes and rivers.

Take a look at four of the most dangerous animals in these habitats and learn what makes them so potentially harmful to people and other animals.

1. Alligators

Alligators are large reptiles that can pose a serious threat to humans and other animals, especially domestic pets. These reptiles are apex predators, so there is nothing that hunts and kills them as adults other than humans. An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 of these creatures live in the state, and they’re commonly found in rivers, lakes, and swamps.

That’s especially true of Lake Blackshear, a lake that is considered the most alligator-infested lake in the state.  

The average male alligator measures over 11 feet in length while the average female can measure a bit over 8 feet long, rarely exceeding 9 feet. However, the biggest alligator ever found in Georgia measured 14 feet long and weighed 700 pounds.

The size and power of these reptiles is hard to overstate. They have a very powerful bite, long teeth, and the ability to strike out of the water with incredible speed. They’re much faster than a human over short distances on land.

However, they do not rely on speed alone to find and kill their prey. Alligators are expert ambushers, and they can easily attack from the cover of water without revealing themselves. Records show alligators have attacked about a dozen people, but they have only killed one.

2. Cottonmouth Snakes

Georgia is home to over 40 species of snakes, but only four of them are venomous. Among the venomous snakes are cottonmouths, also called water moccasins. As their colloquial name implies, these snakes are often found in and around bodies of water. They’re semiaquatic vipers that swim from place to place in search of food.

That means it’s possible to encounter one of these in the lakes and other bodies of water and not just around them. Most of these snakes measure between 26 and 36 inches in length, but they can get larger.

Cottonmouth snakes are dangerous because of their venom. The snake’s bite can cause pain, swelling, difficulty breathing, and tissue damage. Their bites can also cause secondary infections. While rare, these bites can be fatal.

These snakes can appear in a variety of colors. Still, they’re known for gaping their mouths as part of a defensive display, revealing the white mouths from which they get their name.

Most of the time, these snakes bite when humans accidentally step on them or antagonize them. Cottonmouths use a defensive display to reveal when they’re feeling scared. If someone ignores that display and gets closer, the snake may bite them. Still, this reptile would prefer to flee. Despite being one of the most dangerous animals in Georgia’s lakes and rivers, cottonmouth snake bites result in few deaths.

3. Alligator Snapping Turtles

Another one of the most dangerous animals found in Georgia’s lakes and rivers is the alligator snapping turtle. The alligator snapping turtle has the potential to get much larger than a typical snapping turtle, and that makes them even more potentially dangerous. These turtles can weigh anywhere from 20 to 200 pounds while measuring between 13 and 31 inches in length.

These turtles are found in rivers, lakes, and swamps in the southern parts of Georgia. They’re great swimmers, and they’re capable of delivering a vicious bite to their prey.  

With all that being said, these creatures are not likely to interact with humans at all. If they meet with a person in the water, they are more likely to swim away than anything else. However, if a person were to antagonize and provoke one of these turtles, they can deliver a bite that will pierce the skin and potentially amputate digits.

People should always give these animals a wide berth if they encounter them. That’s especially true on land. Since they’re at greater risk of harm on land, they are more defensive. That leads to greater levels of aggression and a higher potential for bites.  

4. Mosquitoes

The mosquito may seem like an outlier on this list. They’re not dangerous in the same way that an alligator is dangerous. A human won’t disappear below the waterline of a river from a swarm of mosquitoes. However, these insects are far from harmless.

Mosquito-borne diseases are very dangerous, causing serious illnesses and deaths throughout the state. For example, West Nile Virus can cause a mild illness in some cases, but it can also lead to severe illnesses like encephalitis and meningitis, both of which can lead to significant damage to a person’s nervous system or even death.

Mosquitoes live in many places, but they’re incredibly common around water sources without much movement. These insects breed in swamps, marshes, lakes, and other pools of stagnant water. Unlike some of the other animals on this list, these insects are hardly noticeable until they’re already bitten a person. While their bites are rarely serious, people that venture near water should understand that mosquitoes are more plentiful in those areas.

The most dangerous animals in Georgia’s lakes and rivers vary in many ways. Some of them are dangerous because they’re massive creatures with a deadly bite while others are relatively small but deliver a somewhat potent venom. No matter which of these dangerous animals a person encounters, it’s a wise idea to leave them alone to reduce the chances of harm.  

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Brett Barnhill/Shutterstock.com