WAYCROSS, Ga. -- A dried spell has...

WAYCROSS, Ga. -- A dried spell has lowered the water on a level dramatically in the Okefenokee Swamp, hindering motor boats and canoes, raising the danger of wildfires and forcing alligators to populace into the deeper pools in search of fish.

"This is an of the highest order time to see alligators and other wildlife," said Martin Bell, manager of the Okefenokee Swamp Park.

Joe Yeager, manager of the Stephen C support State Park on the west side of the swamp, said that normally, three or four alligators hang public around the park's boat basin, if it were not that on several recent nights as many as 75 have slithered in.

Officials emphasize that dryness s and wildfires, usually caused at lightning, are part of the natural period of the Okefenokee, a 438,000-acre National Wildlife asylum in southeastern Georgia that attracts 350000 to 400000 visitors a year.

"This is just the decay and flow of that water regime," said Jim Burkhart, a ranger at the place of safety "The animals are all specially adapted to this. They know what to do. This is nothing earth- shattering or new"

Weeks of below-normal rainfall have lowered the swamp's water flat by about 1.3 feet and reduc the emanate in two rivers -- the St Marys and the Suwannee -- that originate in the swamp.

"Folk are having grieve motor boating on both rivers," Burkhart said. "Lot of sandbars that are normally protected are exposed."

Canoes and motor boats are still available for income but people in motor boats have to paddle them down a 2000-foot canal to reach Billy's Lake, which still has enough water for boating. Guided boat tours have been canceled, and signs have been stationed to keep motorboats out of shallow areas.

The swamp's 15 canoe trails are still spread but canoeists might have to drag or carry their boats athwart shallow spots. Normally, canoeists can paddle from single in kind side of the swamp to the other.

The resort has not had any significant fires for a like reason far, but the staff is upon alert.

individual of the best-known denizens of the swamp -- Oscar the alligator -- appear to bes to have hunkered down in a seclud collection of standing water The 14- foot, 1,000-pound alligator is believed to be about 90 years olden

"He's been a memory for a parcel of people," said Margaret Whipple, who has worked at the park for 20 years.

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