We have booked a site at James Island County Park in September. They have a dog park with a lake/pond and beaches for the dogs.On Trip Advisor,someone said there was no worry about alligators. But how do you know which lakes in the south have gators? I remember in the early 90's visiting my Aunt in St Cloud,Florida and there was a lake there with a beach. I thought who's going to swim there.But I guess people do.

Assume ALL of them, even little ponds. Years back a man lost his arm going to get his golf ball near the edge of a pond on the course. ALL of them. Use caution everywhere. I don't mean to scare you but this is very serious. You never know what pond/lake may have them or how big they could be. Remember the little boy at Disney who was snatched by a gator a couple years ago?

ken56 wrote:Assume ALL of them, even little ponds. Years back a man lost his arm going to get his golf ball near the edge of a pond on the course. ALL of them. Use caution everywhere. I don't mean to scare you but this is very serious. You never know what pond/lake may have them or how big they could be. Remember the little boy at Disney who was snatched by a gator a couple years ago?This! I fish all over North and East Texas and Louisiana and can tell you I've seen alligators where I didn't think would be (north Texas areas where it gets cold in the winter). But, keep the dog on the leash and don't get too close to water, you'll be fine.

We're not South, according to Floridians, but you wont find them this far north. ;):B

Very few ponds or lakes have gators here in SC although all that do are on the coast. Keep pooch leashed, stay on path. Ask park staff if they have had any issues. Mostly it is a NON-ISSUE.

bukhrn wrote:We're not South, according to Floridians, but you wont find them this far north. ;):BActually you are as south as it gets. Unless of course you’re from Northern Virginia!

For those who live in the south | Good Sam Community

2012Coleman
Explorer II
Feb 01, 2019
Suggest you Google James Island County Alligators
johnhicks
Explorer
Jan 31, 2019
Here in the south dogs are known as "bait."

Used to be that if you wanted to go swimming you simply went in the lake; normally gators would stay away.
bighog01
Explorer
Jan 31, 2019
Especially here in Florida, assume all fresh water bodies have alligators. Also around the water be on the lookout for water moccasins which are just as dangerous.
bukhrn
Explorer III
Jan 31, 2019
wildtoad wrote:
bukhrn wrote:
We're not South, according to Floridians, but you wont find them this far north. ;):B

Actually you are as south as it gets. Unless of course you’re from Northern Virginia!
No way, too much like where I left from.
joebedford
Nomad II
Jan 31, 2019
The RV parks that have vacancies are the ones that have alligators :)
Fizz
Explorer
Jan 31, 2019
bucky wrote:
Keep in mind that gators can run 20 mph. Can you?

As the saying goes... As long as I can run faster than my buddy, I'm safe.
bucky
Explorer II
Jan 31, 2019
Keep in mind that gators can run 20 mph. Can you?
memtb
Explorer
Jan 31, 2019
RGar974417 wrote:
We have booked a site at James Island County Park in September. They have a dog park with a lake/pond and beaches for the dogs.On Trip Advisor,someone said there was no worry about alligators. But how do you know which lakes in the south have gators? I remember in the early 90's visiting my Aunt in St Cloud,Florida and there was a lake there with a beach. I thought who's going to swim there.But I guess people do.

Almost all waterways in the south (south of South Carolina) are lively to have gators!
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Jan 31, 2019
There are only two things that swim in most southern waters: alligators and alligator food...
FF286
Explorer
Jan 31, 2019
It’s been a couple years since I’ve been there but I believe the pond for the dogs is inside a fenced area. I wouldn’t let your dogs swim in any of the other ponds. That is one of my favorite campgrounds, but alligators can be most anywhere there is water. Along with snakes, which are harder to see. But with all the activity in the dog park most unwanted wildlife will stay away.

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