Alligator sightings prompt rangers to close part of Cobb County park

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A giant alligator is causing concern for some near the Chattahoochee River.

The gator is 6 to 8 feet long.

The National Park Service has shut down a part of a trail to keep people away from the gator after it was spotted lurking along the Cochran Shoals Fitness Loop in north Fulton County.

Wildlife officials told Channel 2’s Matt Johnson they are actually concerned for the gator's safety!

Part of the Chattahoochee River recreation area is closed indefinitely because of the alligator sightings.

People at the Chochran Shoals part of the park near Interstate 285 say having the gator around is a little nerve-wracking.

“It makes me feel wow, I thought I was worried about snakes,” jogger Judy Rauto said. %

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Park rangers say the warning sign is up not because of anything the alligator did, instead it's what people were doing.

“They were harassing the alligator and throwing things at it, so we closed that section of the trail to protect the alligator, quite frankly,” said Park Ranger Jerry Hightower.

Rangers told Johnson the alligator has been a part of the park for 10 years but has become more visible in the past week.

“It seems to stay off in his own little area. I saw it Friday and yesterday and today,” said jogger Tom Elsey.

Some people even picked out their favorite place to spot it before the area was closed.

“Right down there, there's a corner and a bench and you can stand in the bench and look down and see it,” jogger Tisa Delaney Pearce pointed out to Johnson.

Park officials aren't saying when the section of the park will reopen.

Some at the park say it's not a surprise that people and the alligator couldn't just get along.

“Naturally that area is closed off so we don’t do anything stupid,” said jogger Autumn Thomason.

Park rangers told Johnson they suspect the alligator was once someone's pet until it became too big. They think that person dropped it off at the park and it's been home ever since.

There is no word yet on if rangers plan to move it somewhere else.

Cox Media Group