Earlier this week, an American Crocodile was spotted under the pier at Pompano Beach in northern Broward County. This is the latest in an increasing list of recent sightings of crocodiles outside of the normal range in Florida which was limited to the Upper Florida Keys, Biscayne National Park and the area around Turkey Point nuclear power plant.

In recent years, Crocodiles have been spotted in Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Boynton Beach and as far north as Vero Beach. Crocodiles unlike alligators tolerate salinity and enjoy brackish water though more alligators have been found in brackish waters recently particularly around Fort Pierce and Ponte Vedre/Nocatee.

More interestingly since Hurricanes Irma there have been increasing Crocodile sightings inland, at points like Shark Valley in Everglades National Park as well as conservation areas in Southwest Miami-Dade County.

Habitat loss, climate change and storms all contribute to this phenomena. It’s worth keeping an eye on as we go forward here in the Sunshine State. The same can be said for the increasing migration of alligators into brackish waters.