Coronavirus alters lake traffic in Allatoona

Although the global pandemic of 2020 stretches on into July, lake traffic has returned to Lake Allatoona in Georgia.  Less boaters are rafting up in the lake this year and many are keeping their distance from other boaters.  As more boaters are on the lake now while keeping more distance from others, there may be additional opportunities to catch a glimpse of the Toe Nibbler.  Some reports have indicated the increased kayak activity on Little River due to the reopening of Rope Mill Park may have caused the Nibbler to move from that location and relocate north of Knox Bridge ramp where the Etowah River opens into the lake. 

If you are on the lake in this area, please keep an eye out for any Nibbler activity.

Unusually heavy Spring rains have caused a significant rise in lake levels entering the 2019 Summer season.  Lake levels have been as much as 12 feet over ideal summertime levels.  It is currently unknown how this will have affected Toe Nibbler habitat or if it will have caused the population to have moved to other parts of the lake.  Please be sure to be on the look out while on the lake this year and report any activity quickly.


Photo: AJC.com

Winter 2015

Surprisingly, there were very few reports of Toe Nibbler activity on the lake this year.  Most reports could easily be explained as simple small fish or other ordinary lake dwellers nipping at swimmers.  Lake temperatures and water levels did not seem to vary much from other years with higher Nibbler reports.

Cool, wet weather limits 2013 sightings

The unusually wet and cool summer in Atlanta has caused many people to avoid the lake this year.  With so many fewer visitors, there have been no reported sightings or reports of Nibbler activity.  In other parts of the world, possible salt water nibbler-esque creatures have been discovered.  As with most aquatic life, saltwater nibblers are thought to grow much larger than their freshwater cousins.  Pictured is a recent find on a Spanish beach of an unidentified sea dweller that some believe may be a distant cousin of the creature living in Lake Allatoona.

Possible Freshwater shark?

As the weather warms up (earlier this year than in recent memory), the lake is already seeing a number of boaters and swimmers.  With the increase of lake visitors, the probability of Nibbler sightings in on the rise.  Recently, scientists have theorized that some more famous lake dwellers (Champ and Nessie) might actually be a rare freshwater shark.  Since these sharks are seldom seen, but do inhabit inland lakes and rivers, it might be possible that the Nibbler is also one of the sharks.  Although the physical description of the Allatoona Toe Nibbler varies greatly from that of a shark, the possibility still remains.  As always, please report any sighting promptly along with any pictures and exact location on the lake.

Historic Photographic Evidence?

Recent sightings have generated new interest in discovering the identity of the Allatoona Toe Nibbler. This renewed interest led to the discovery of this vintage photograph reportedly taken during the construction of the dam at Jordan Lake in Alabama during the 1920s. Although a sense of scale is difficult to determine from the photo, the creature was said to be approximately the size of a large child (between 80 and 100 lbs.) Discovered by workers during the construction of the dam, the species of animal was never determined.

The Etowah River (which forms Lake Allatoona) flows into the Coosa River in Alabama. It is likely that this creature is an early relative of the the creatures that live in Lake Allatoona. This photograph seems

to match the recent descriptions given by eye witnesses of a three-toed creature with small beady eyes. The mouth could certainly account for the nibbles felt by swimmers.

Considering that few other sightings have been reported along the Etowah-Coosa river basin, we can theorize that the largest population of existing Toe Nibblers now inhabit Lake Allatoona.

River Monsters

In an attempt to discover the identity of the Lake Allatoona Toe Nibbler, Animal Planet may be filming an upcoming episode of their hit show River Monsters. Although plans have not been finalized, this may finally prove the skeptics wrong. Stay tuned for more info.