A crocodile sighting in Lake Osceola has prompted the University of Miami to issue a safety advisory, urging students and visitors to avoid the water’s edge and not approach or feed any wildlife.
This is the first reported crocodile sighting in recent memory in Lake Osceola, a man-made freshwater lake located at the center of the university’s Coral Gables campus. The lake is surrounded by winding footpaths used daily by students heading to class and campus events — and those passing by may now be doing so at a noticeably brisker pace.
Although artificial, Lake Osceola connects to Biscayne Bay through a series of canals that support a thriving ecosystem. Regular wildlife in the area includes manatees, turtles, ducks, ibis (the university’s mascot, who goes by “Sebastian”), and snakes such as cottonmouths. While crocodiles and alligators are not permanent residents, their presence in South Florida’s interconnected waterways is not uncommon, particularly during warmer months…