CROCS ARE MAKING A COMEBACK

Florida Native Population Growing

Written by: Bill LaPlante

Iwrite of one of Florida’s most ancient reptiles – the croc. Um … that would be the American crocodile, not the open-heeled plastic shoes. Although my mother, now nearing 96 years young, loves those floating, slip-resistant things and has a half dozen pair in multiple colors, we are speaking here of the growing population in our state of the Florida gator’s cousin.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, The American crocodile, or Crocodylus acutus, still maintains the federal status of "threatened", though the population of just 300 adults in 1975 has grown to nearly 2,000 in recent years. Over the decades, they were hunted nearly to extinction for their hides (think boots, belts and handbags) and heads (think Sunshine State tourist trap trinkets). And while habitat destruction continues to eliminate breeding grounds, with hundreds more acres going under developers’ machinery each day, this primeval beast’s numbers are finally on the rebound.

The FWC also tells us that American crocodiles are a "shy and reclusive" exotic species and, despite popular belief, are not actually indigenous to sunny Florida. Originally introduced here in the 1800s from their native Caribbean breeding grounds, these reptiles are more susceptible to the cold than alligators, so South Florida is generally the northernmost reach of their range. Over the years, they have become saltwater-tolerant and now inhabit brackish regions. They are also still found in the fresh-water ponds, creeks and coves of mangrove swamps – much like the one in my backyard! More recently, the extensive canal systems of South Florida have provided a sort of superhighway to inland freshwater coastal areas, extending the range of the American crocodile as far north as Tampa. They can also be found in Hispaniola, Cuba, Jamaica, astride the Caribbean coast from southern Mexico to Venezuela, and spanning the Pacific coast from Mexico to Peru.

Crocodile numbers have recovered from a few hundred individuals to as many as 2,000 adult crocodiles today. The Florida population of this native species is now classified as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

CROCS VS. GATORS

So, how do we know that we have just seen a croc and not one of the million-or-so gators that seem to inhabit every golf course lake and water retention pond from St. Petersburg to the Florida Keys? The FWC says it can be tough for most folks to distinguish between the American crocodile and the ubiquitous native Florida gator. This is especially true when all you get is a quick glance at a bobbing snout protruding everso-slightly from a placid pond while the sun is reflecting off your Ray Bans. To help out, here are some distinguishing characteristics to help you identify each species:

• Crocs are a lighter gray-green color, while alligators are nearly black.

• Crocs have their fourth lower tooth on each side exposed when their jaws are closed, while gators display only upper teeth.

• Crocs have a tapered, narrow snout, while gators boast a broader, roundish one.

• Baby crocs are light with dark stripes, whereas baby gators are dark with yellowish stripes.

Quick Fun Facts

Crocs, like all reptiles, are "ectothermic", meaning that they rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperatures. That explains why you may see them sunning waterside, mouths agape, soaking up the sun. If our human lives were that simple, perhaps our A/C bills would be much lower in the summertime!

American crocodiles mate in late fall or early winter, with nesting following late in April or early in May. Females lay between 20 and 50 eggs, which hatch in a month and a half or so, right before the summer rains. When the cute critters pop out of their shells, Mama Croc digs up the nest and carries her little ones to the nearest available water.

Lastly, most of us have heard that if you are ever chased by a croc or gator, you must run a zigzag pattern as the ultimate escape route. As it turns out, you can file that under the heading of DANGEROUS INFORMATION. If you need to put space between you and a sharp-toothed reptile, what matters is simply speed, so just hightail it in a straight line pronto, putting as much ground between you and that reptilian critter as quickly as possible. FCM

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