SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. – A slew of new warning signs about crocodiles are turning up throughout the canal-lined neighborhoods in Satellite Beach as Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers continue to investigate claims that a small dog was seen in the mouth of a crocodile, Florida Today reported.
The remains of the small pug were not located. It was also not immediately clear that the state agency had talked to the dog owner.
A graphic video captured by a local drone operator shows the crocodile coursing through a murky Satellite Beach canal with an unresponsive, small pug in its mouth. Officials with FWC contacted the Satellite Beach Police Department to give them a heads-up that the new signs would go up in kayaking areas and along the canals, said Kara Howard, administrative assistant with Satellite Beach.
The claim was initially reported to Satellite Beach police but actually took place in Brevard County’s jurisdiction.
The area is already rife with wildlife, including turtles that can be found strolling through yards. There are also alligators that lurk through the canal waters and manatees are known to gather and frolic along the canal. The American crocodiles, however, have been turning up more and more in recent months. There are an estimated 1,000 to 2,500 crocodiles that ring the lower coastal region of Florida, according to the FWC. By contrast, there are an estimated 1.5 million alligators in waterways, canals and rivers across the state, experts say.
Already, some residents are continuing to express concerns about the long-snouted reptiles — protected under federal law — in its waters.
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Others are not.
Jon Appling, who bought a house along the Grand Canal last February, says he contacted FWC after hearing about the attack. He also says that he saw a crocodile swim by in the canal as he was boating Monday but did not think much of it.
“Later, my neighbor had a drone and was watching it in real time as the crocodile had the pup in his mouth. I called FWC and they said there was nothing they could do because (crocodiles) are federally protected,” Appling told Florida Today.
The wildlife commission, which fielded a call about the Tuesday incident, stressed that crocodiles are typically reclusive and shy.
“Conflicts between them and people are extremely rare in Florida,” the agency’s division of hunting and game management said in a statement issued earlier.
Appling, who describes himself as a “mountain boy” from North Carolina, said he has not seen any of the warning signs popping up along parts of the canal.
“I haven’t seen any signs .. .is that going to make the croc go away?” he said.
“I’m not personally worried about it. Am I concerned about it getting one of my grandbabies or my puppy? No. Because I’ll be there.”