Exclusive: Atlanta officials quietly plan for new hospital
Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

3-foot gator spotted in Forsyth County

An alligator was located in a retention pond in a Forsyth County subdivision. (Credit: The Gainesville Times)
An alligator was located in a retention pond in a Forsyth County subdivision. (Credit: The Gainesville Times)
By Steve Burns
Aug 11, 2016

A 3-foot alligator was seen in a Forsyth County neighborhood this week, according to a media report.

The reptile was located in a retention pond in the Stonehaven Pointe subdivision, which is off Piney Grove Road near Cumming, the Gainesville Times reported.

A 911 call was made to Forsyth County authorities Wednesday evening, though the concern was for people reportedly throwing trash into the pond to lure the gator out, sheriff’s spokesman Epifanio Rodriguez told the Times. The sheriff’s office does not handle wildlife calls, so Rodriguez referred the caller to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Alligator sightings are rare in North Georgia. In May, DNR workers trapped a 6-foot alligator in the Chattahoochee River.

Public awareness of alligators has increased since June, when an alligator snatched a toddler at a lagoon in the Walt Disney resort. The toddler's body was found the next day.

ExploreRead more of the story here.

About the Author

Steve Burns
More Stories

Keep Reading

Hours after an officer-involved shooting left one person dead in Smyrna on Friday, officials at the scene opened the back of a U-Haul truck involved in the incident. A grill, laundry machine and various bags were stored in the truck. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

1 dead after Smyrna traffic stop leads to exchange of gunfire, police say

A person is dead and the GBI is investigating after a traffic stop turned fatal in Smyrna on Friday morning, according to police.

1h ago

DNA leads to conviction of man in decades-old DeKalb sexual assaults

Brother is also facing charges relating to March 1986 incident and is linked to assaults in Cobb and Fulton counties.

Mother seeks damages a year after son was fatally shot by Atlanta officer

Devon Anderson's family contends Atlanta police routinely turn a blind eye to officers’ misconduct.

The Latest

Hours after an officer-involved shooting left one person dead in Smyrna on Friday, officials at the scene opened the back of a U-Haul truck involved in the incident. A grill, laundry machine and various bags were stored in the truck. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

1 dead after Smyrna traffic stop leads to exchange of gunfire, police say

1h ago

Fulton County’s RICO cases, by the numbers

Here’s what attorneys are saying about Fani Willis’ use of RICO

Featured

Housing affordability is the top concern for metro Atlanta residents, according to a new survey. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Metro Atlantans sour on housing affordability, pessimism is growing, poll says

The economy ranked as the top issue facing metro Atlanta last year, supplanting crime for the number one spot. This is the first year housing affordability has been an option.

DeKalb schools superintendent pleads not guilty to federal charges

Devon Horton has resigned from his role as DeKalb County superintendent, He has pleaded not guilty to federal charges stemming from his previous job in Illinois.

See video police say shows ex-PSC candidate Durand take Georgia Power secrets

Patty Durand has long criticized Georgia Power for concealing information under the cloak of trade secret about various initiatives and requests of state regulators.