STOCK ISLAND, Fla., Nov. 15 (UPI) -- The American Crocodile, placed on the endangered species list after its numbers dwindled to 200, is making a strong comeback.
In the last 30 years their numbers in Florida, the northernmost part of their range, have grown to about 1,000 and as a result sightings by humans are growing more and more common, the Miami Herald reported Monday.
People have seen them around marinas, in yards and swimming pools and next to restaurants throughout the island chain. They've been spotted at the Boca Chica Naval Air Station, where officials were initially concerned they might interfere with runway operations, and have been observed paddling as far west as the Dry Tortugas, though scientists aren't sure if that one originated in Cuba.
"They are showing up in areas that they hadn't been found before on a regular basis. We expect to continue to see crocodiles in areas where they may not have been living before," said Randy Grau, a Keys-based wildlife biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The American Crocodile is distinct from the alligator which is much more common in Florida and, unlike the crocodile, lives in fresh water.
