A giant American crocodile was spotted swimming in a Florida pond – as the apex predator hissed at the two experts trying to remove it and relocate it to its habitat.
The 10ft long beast found itself in someone’s backyard swimming pool – and started fidgeting and making waves before being pulled out of the water by a brave trapper in the early hours of the morning.
Experienced wildlife catcher Todd Hardwick first tried to pull the crocodile out of the water at the far end, but to no avail. “Now we have a slippery pool deck here,” he said after the splashes made a mess on the tiles.
Meanwhile, the black, 10-foot-tall creature could be seen in the blue-lit tank, twirling its body in circles.
The experts, including assistant catch Jeff Peterla, then tried again to pull it out by the head – and finally got it out of the water on June 11.
The 10-foot animal was thrashing about and causing ripples in the swimming pool before being pulled out of the water by a brave trapper in the early hours of the morning
The giant crocodile had found its way into a homeowner’s pool
But then the crocodile kept rolling on its back while being tied around the mouth with the expert’s rope.
One of the men then climbs onto the crocodile’s back and stabilizes it so that it cannot move.
They both agreed that the animal was larger than they had expected.
The crocodile, which had been taken to a safe location with the help of a Monroe County official, was seen shuffling into the water and continuing on its way.
Pesky Critters wrote on Instagram: “CRIKEY! That’s a CROCODILE!
“At 2 a.m. Sunday, June 11, 2023, wildlife officers received a call from a homeowner in Plantation Key at Mile Marker 90 about a HUGE 10-foot American alligator in their pool.
“Pesky Critters Wildlife Control scavengers have been dispatched to fulfill their role as FWC crocodile agents.”
“Experienced wildlife trapper Todd Hardwick quickly secured the crocodile even after its massive water splashes left it slippery and dangerous on the pool deck.”
The crocodile, which had been taken to a safe location with the help of a Monroe County official, was seen shuffling into the water and continuing on its way
You can see the crocodile, half in the water, being pulled out by the handler
Eventually it was released back into its own habitat
Crocodiles splash in the water when scared – meaning the crocodile’s movements in the Florida pool show it was in distress (stock image)
“He and Assistant Trapper Jeff Peterla heaved it onto the deck where a Monroe County Officer (MCSO – Florida Keys) then helped them move it to a safe location for release.”
“The footage shows Todd Hardwick removing its restraints after relocation and gently but safely encouraging it back into its habitat.”
“Crocodiles are a threatened species in Florida and are endangered throughout the United States.”
The American crocodile is protected as a threatened species under the Federal Endangered Species Act – and as a federally threatened species under Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule.
They are most common in the US along the South Florida coasts, but far outnumber alligators in the Sunshine State. They live in brackish or saltwater areas and are found in ponds, bays and streams in mangrove swamps.
Crocodiles also splash in the water when they are scared – so the movements of the crocodile in the Florida pool show that it was in distress.
American crocodiles are considered one of the most docile species of crocodiles and try to avoid human contact whenever possible. Their Nile and saltwater cousins, found in Africa and Australia respectively, are far more aggressive.
Alligators kill about one person a year in the United States. However, crocodiles kill about 1,000 people every year in Africa alone.