A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission tracking project found that American crocodiles can move through south Florida’s canals and waterways, sometimes passing through developed areas without residents noticing. The early report described 15 tagged crocodiles with varied movement patterns—not one routine shared by every animal. The findings are preliminary, not a final statewide study.
What did the crocodile tracking study find?
A January 31, 2025 report described ongoing Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) tracking of American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus). By the time of that report, researchers had tagged 15 animals. Some used relatively small home ranges; others moved between urban and wilderness areas. The report noted a preliminary pattern: crocodiles in more densely developed settings had smaller home ranges, while those near larger natural waterways ranged farther. These observations are not a universal rule or a population-wide estimate. The Guardian’s January 2025 account described the project as ongoing and cautioned that it was too early for strong conclusions.
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The first crocodiles in the project were trapped in summer 2022 in Brevard, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. The account emphasized individual variation rather than a single systematic routine. It did not establish an average travel distance, and it does not support saying how far Florida crocodiles typically travel.
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How can crocodiles pass through neighborhoods unnoticed?
South Florida’s connected canals and other waterways can provide routes through both natural and populated landscapes. Lead researcher Vincent Deem, FWC’s crocodilian research program leader, said: “Crocodiles are a shy species that tend to avoid people. Our tracking shows that they are able to navigate through south Florida’s extensive canal system and various waterways usually going unnoticed by residents.” That describes movement through waterways; it is not evidence that crocodiles are seeking people out.
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Deem called peaceful coexistence “not only possible, but [the norm]” in the context of the preliminary tracking project. The account said researchers hoped that continued work would help assess how human activity affects movement, road crossings and habitat use in urban surroundings. Those questions were not yet resolved by the reported findings.
Which crocodiles are in the study—and how are they different from alligators?
The tracked animals are American crocodiles, not American alligators. FWC identifies the American crocodile as one of Florida’s native crocodilians and says its U.S. range is limited to southernmost Florida. The agency’s crocodilian research program began in 1974. FWC’s research overview provides the agency context, while its American crocodile profile covers the species.
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What other research about crocodiles in developed areas says
A separate peer-reviewed paper published in 2025 examined American crocodiles basking on docks, paddleboards, jet skis and other recreational equipment. It concerns animals’ use of equipment in developed landscapes, not the FWC urban movement project described above, and should not be treated as a result of that tracking study. The paper, “American crocodiles on jet skis: Conflict or coexistence?”, addresses that distinct behavior.
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FWC’s November 17, 2025 guidance recommends practical precautions around crocodiles and their habitat. A crocodile lying motionless on land with its mouth open—called “gaping”—may be regulating its body temperature; that behavior alone does not indicate aggression. Crocodiles may also cross land between waterbodies, and FWC says they are not actively hunting prey while doing so. Read FWC’s croc-wise guidance.
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- Keep a safe distance from crocodiles.
- Keep pets leashed and small children away from the water’s edge.
- Swim only in designated areas, and only during daylight.
- Never feed crocodiles.
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