As if alligators, sharks, and pythons that swim in salt water weren't already a constant worry in the minds of water-loving South Floridians, experts say the threatened American Crocodile population has rebounded heartily from a count of less than 300 in the 1970s.
The imperiled population has grown to an estimated 1,500 crocs despite a freeze two years ago that killed hundreds, reports the Miami Herald, and Florida Fish And Wildlife says from just 10 to 20 documented nests there are now more than 100 on record.
That's a good thing for the crocodile, a reportedly bashful snaggletooth whose only U.S. home is South Florida, in the salty and brackish ponds, creeks in mangrove swamps, and even freshwater canals that dot the landscape.
But as the Herald reports, more crocodiles means more encounters with humans. Though crocodilian expert and HuffPost blogger Frank J. Mazzotti confirms the American crocodile is shy of man -- its reputation earned largely by its aggressive relatives in Africa and Australia -- at least one dog has been snatched off a dock in the Florida Keys, and nuisance calls are on the rise:
Last year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission fielded 106 "nuisance" croc calls — with more than 80 percent of those from Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, which boast prime breeding grounds along Florida Bay and the highest concentration of crocs...
"As their numbers grow, so does the risk, said [biologist Mark] Parry. “Sooner or later there will probably be, just like with the Florida panther, a first attack on a human."
Interesting facts about crocodiles, according to the Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission:
- Crocodiles are most active between dusk and dawn, so swimming is only recommended during daylight hours. (Source)
The most common thing people want to know, however, is how to tell the difference between a crocodile and an alligator. See the slideshow below for more, including images of conservation in process and crocs from around the world: