POMPANO BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A surprising visitor has made itself at home in a Pompano Beach neighborhood, and residents are concerned about its proximity to their homes.
A crocodile has been spotted lurking in a canal near Northeast 19th Street and Northeast 28th Terrace, venturing out during high tide, possibly in search of food.
Cellphone video recorded on Sunday captured the reptile with its mouth wide open as it sunned itself on a dock.
7News cameras later captured the crocodile for the second day in a row as it swam in the same area.
Gina, who spoke with 7News on Saturday, said she couldn’t believe her eyes when she first noticed the creature in the water near Northeast 19th Street and 28th Terrace earlier in the week.
“The whole crocodile came out from underneath the dock during high tide, and the mullet went running, so he was maybe looking for some fish,” said Gina.
Concerned for her neighbors’ safety, Gina called 7News to alert the community. She said the crocodile has stuck around.
“He’s come up a few times there — was sunning himself, floating in the water,” she said.
“It’s just crazy,” said another resident.
This recent crocodile sighting follows another incident just last week when a crocodile was seen in the Atlantic near the Pompano Pier, leading to the temporary closure of the beach.
While it’s uncertain whether this is the same crocodile, residents like Gina are ready to see it move on.
“It’s scary with the high tide. We’ve got the king tide here, so he can climb up over the dock and get into anybody’s backyard,” said Gina.
High tides have raised fears that the crocodile could potentially climb over docks and enter residents’ backyards, prompting concerns for both human safety and the well-being of local animals.
“We just want everyone to be safe and all our animals to be safe,” said another concerned resident.
Residents are eager for a resolution to ensure everyone’s safety, and they hope the unexpected guest finds a new home soon.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) spoke with Gina, saying that they are monitoring the reptile.
As of Monday, the FWC said there are no plans to remove the crocodile at this time, but they will be conducting a site visit.
Anyone who comes in contact with the crocodile is urged to call FWC immediately at 888-404-FWCC.
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