A huge 10-foot-tall American crocodile was spotted in the middle of the night in the backyard pool of a home in the Florida Keys. Terrified homeowners quickly called wildlife officials, after which a group of trappers from an organization called Pesky Critters Animal Control reached the site to remove the crocodile.
A video has surfaced online showing expert wildlife trapper Todd Hardwick and his assistant trapper Jeff Peterla as they struggle to capture the crocodile before releasing it into the wild.
Pesky Critters Wildlife Control shared the video on Instagram, writing: ”Sunday June 11, 2023 at 2am, conservationists received a call from a homeowner in Plantation Key at 90 Mile Marker about a HUGE 10-foot American crocodile in their pool. Pesky Critters Wildlife Control trappers were sent out to fulfill their role as FWC Crocodile Agents. Expert game catcher Todd Hardwick quickly restrained the crocodile, even after the massive splashes created a slippery and dangerous situation on the pool deck. He and assistant trapper Jeff Peterla hoisted it onto the deck, where a Monroe County officer then assisted them in moving it to a safe location for release.”
Watch the video here:
In the video, a trapper struggles to pull the animal out of the water, as the creature pulls, rolls, and splashes around in the water. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, American crocodiles only tend to splash aggressively when they are frightened.
After a bit of wrestling, the pair hoisted the reptile into the pool deck and restrained it before dragging it across the backyard patio. It was later released into a nearby body of water.
American crocodiles are most common in the US around the coasts of South Florida, but are much outnumbered by alligators. They are an endangered species in Florida and endangered throughout the United States.
They live in brackish or salt water areas and can be found in ponds, bays and creeks in mangrove swamps. They are incredibly fast swimmers and they can swim at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.
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