A Broward County homeowner was in for a surprise when they discovered a 9-foot American crocodile swimming in their pool. According to the latest Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) law enforcement report, officers responded to the call and confirmed the reptile was a crocodile, not an alligator as initially believed.
The officers quickly notified the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP), and specialized agents were dispatched to safely capture and relocate the crocodile.
While crocodile encounters in Florida are rare, they do occur. The FWC notes that American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) are typically found in coastal areas of the Caribbean, with the northernmost part of their range in South Florida. They usually inhabit brackish or saltwater environments, such as ponds, coves, and creeks in mangrove swamps. However, due to the region’s extensive canal system, they are occasionally spotted inland in freshwater areas along Florida’s southeast coast. American crocodiles are also found in Hispaniola, Cuba, Jamaica, and along the coasts of Mexico, Venezuela, and Peru.