The American crocodile can be found in coastal regions of southern Florida and is a conservation success story. Hunting and habitat loss resulted in severe declines in Florida's crocodile population throughout much of the 20th century. To protect the species from extinction, crocodiles were listed in Florida as a protected species in 1967 and later federally as an endangered species in 1975. Crocodile populations have since increased from a few hundred individuals to about 2,000 nonhatchling crocodiles today and have been downlisted from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act. While American crocodiles are found in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, Florida is the only place in the United States where they can be seen in the wild.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recommends taking the following precautions when in and around the water to prevent conflicts with crocodiles:

• Keep a safe distance if you see a crocodile.
• Keep pets on a leash and small children away from the water’s edge, especially during nighttime hours, to avoid cases of mistaken identity. Pets often resemble crocodiles’ natural prey.
• Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet. Crocodiles are most active between dusk and dawn.
• Never feed a crocodile – it is illegal and dangerous. When fed, crocodiles can lose their natural wariness of people and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food. This includes indirect feeding, which can happen when feeding other wildlife or when improperly disposing of fish scraps.
• If someone is concerned about a crocodile, they should call FWC’s toll-free hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286), and we will work with you to accurately assess the situation and respond appropriately.

Find more resources about living with crocodiles at MyFWC.com/Crocodile.