8-foot gator prompts closure

Officials cite visitor safety in closing part of river park.

A portion of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area will be closed indefinitely for the safety of visitors and to protect visiting wildlife, National Park Service officials said Tuesday. The action follows the spotting of an alligator last week.

The Cochran Shoals Fitness Loop, located in the Cochran Shoals unit of the park, will be closed Tuesday until further notice, Ardrianna McLane, a spokeswoman for the park, said in an email.

An 8-foot-long alligator was seen March 9 in the park, prompting the closure as a precaution.

Cobb County wildlife photographer Vic- tor Webb was walking in Cochran Shoals when he came upon a large animal resting on the banks. He found himself less than 30 yards away from the adult alligator.

“People have been telling me about that alligator, but I never believed them,” Webb previoulsy told The Atlanta JournalConstitution. “Lo and behold, there she was laying on the sandy bank.”

Officials said recent interactions with the alli- gator pose a risk to public safety as well as the health of wildlife.

“This temporary closure will provide added protection for the alligator and the visiting public while the National Park Service and Georgia Department of Natural Resources develop a range of next steps to ensure the long-term protection of the alligator and promote visitor safety,” McLane said.