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Dog Killed in Suspected Crocodile Attack
28 Aug
Summary
- A dog was killed in an alleged crocodile attack near South Miami canals.
- American crocodile populations are increasing in South Florida urban areas.
- Crocodiles are protected as a threatened species in the United States.
South Miami Police issued a public safety warning after a dog was allegedly killed in a crocodile attack. The incident occurred near canals in South Miami, an area where American crocodiles are increasingly being sighted.
State officials note that crocodile populations are rebounding, leading them to inhabit more urban areas of South Florida. Sightings are expected to increase on various watercraft and floating structures as crocodiles adapt to human development. The alligator-like reptiles are protected under federal law as a threatened species.
American crocodiles, distinguishable by their gray coloring and pointed snouts, were once federally listed as endangered but were downgraded to threatened in 2007. Florida is the sole state where these crocodiles naturally occur. Their populations have grown from a few hundred in 1975 to an estimated 2,000 today, with most residing in protected bays and parks.
