This is the Most Croc-Infested Water Body in Florida

Travel to Florida, and chances are high that you’ll see an alligator. But a crocodile? These creatures are much more elusive, with fewer numbers too, so it’s less likely to encounter one in the wild. Unless you know where to look, that is.

The highest density of crocodiles in the country is in southern Florida. Although the population of crocodiles isn’t officially tracked by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there have been studies that shed light on where most crocodiles prefer to live. Here’s what you need to know about the most croc-infested body of water in Florida.

What Type of Crocodiles Live in Florida?

American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) are native to south Florida and the Keys and were federally listed as an endangered species in 1975, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

“Florida crocodile populations have rebounded from a few hundred individuals to as many as 2,000 adult crocodiles today,” says Lauren Claerbout, Public Information Coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (This isn’t a lot compared to the 1.3 million alligators that reside in the state.)

The increasing number of crocs changed their classification to a threatened species in Florida. These reptiles can also be found in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, yet Florida is the only place in the United States where people can see them in the wild. 

Habitats Needed for Croc Survival

Crocodiles thrive in mangrove forests, according to National Geographic, which have dwindled in Southern Florida due to construction and climate change. CrocDocs, a team of researchers at the University of Florida, said that American crocodiles prefer brackish and saltwater habitats in ponds, coves, and creeks in mangrove swamps. Because of this, many are starting to make their homes in protected areas around Biscayne Bay and in the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).

The NWR was established in 1980 and includes a variety of habitats (including mangrove forests) that help plants and animals thrive. The 6,700-acre wildlife refuge, located in Key Largo, Florida, is not open to visitors, so if you’re hoping to spot crocodiles in the wild, this is not the place. This is for the animals’ safety, as the NWR works to supplement crocodile nesting areas with sand to protect the hatchlings from sea level rise and coastal erosion, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. NWR also has built 40 maternity wards for expectant croc moms and has counted over 250 crocodile nests over the years.

Another place crocodiles are thriving is near Florida Power and Light’s Turkey Point nuclear power plant in Homestead, which maintains artificial, flood-proof berms that crocodiles like to nest in and the cooling freshwater pods that hatchlings need. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 540 crocodile nests have been counted here in the 2020s, compared to only two nests in the 1970s.

Similarly, the Cape Sable area of Everglades National Park is a hot spot for crocodiles, as two of the major canals were plugged in the 1980s. There were no nests in Cape Sable in the 1970s and 1,180 nests in the 2020s.

Overall, CrocDocs researchers tracked 3,013 crocodile nests in southern Florida in 2020, compared to just 93 nests in the 1970s, with the nesting success rate rising to almost 90 percent from 61 percent.

Crocodiles are thriving right now!

Where Is the Most Croc-Infested Body of Water in Florida?

“The majority of Florida’s American crocodile population is found within Everglades National Park, mainly throughout the coastal, brackish, and saltwater regions of the park,” Claerbout says. “[The FWC] does not conduct population surveys on American crocodiles and cannot provide additional information on where they are located within the park.”

Studies have shown that the water in the Flamingo to Cape Sable area of the Everglades National Park has the highest density of crocodiles in Florida, with one study showing Buttonwood Canal in particular had the most crocodiles per kilometer.

CrocDocs found that Flamingo and Cape Sable had the most crocodile nests per year since the Buttonwood Canal and East Cape Canal were plugged in the 1980s, after being drained for farmland in the early 1900s.

Another study backed this up. Researchers published a 12-year study in Ecological Indicators that recorded 1,449 crocodiles from Cape Sable to Flamingo, West Lake to Seven Palm Lake, and Northeast Florida Bay from Madeira Bay to US1 from 2004-2015. They found the highest density of crocodiles in the Cape Sable to and Flamingo area, in particular the Buttonwood Canal, which confirmed that restoring freshwater flow to this area increased the number of crocodiles.

Spot a Crocodile From a Canoe

The Buttonwood Canal is a manmade waterway located near Flamingo Marino that is part of the 160-kilometer Wilderness Waterway from Everglades City to Flamingo. Tourists can catch a boat tour or go canoeing in this area to spot some crocs and other native wildlife.

Additionally, you can visit Flamingo, which is a coastal area in the southernmost district of Everglades National Park, or Cape Sable, a large coastal landmass at the southwestern tip of the Everglades, to see American crocodiles.

Keep in mind that swimming in all canals, ponds, freshwater lakes, marked channels, and boat basins is prohibited in Everglades National Park. For your safety, always stay approximately 15 to 20 feet from the shoreline.

Harm to Humans

Unlike the Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) in Africa and saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) in the Indo-Pacific, who are usually involved in more frequent human-crocodile interactions, Claerbout says, “the American crocodile is a shy and reclusive species.”

Because of this, chances are slim that you would be harmed by one of these apex predators. “Conflicts between American crocodiles and people are extremely rare in Florida due to their relatively small population numbers and wariness of people,” Claerbout explains. “Only two bite incidents have been documented in Florida.”

In recent years, crocodile sightings have increased in Florida “as a result of their population recovery, being seen in locations that they haven’t been to in decades, along with the growing number of people living and spending time on or near Florida’s waters,” says Claerbout.

Still, use should take caution while near any body of water in Florida. “Alligators may be found in nearly any body of water throughout the state of Florida,” Claerbout warns. “In coastal areas of south Florida, there is added potential for American crocodiles to be present as well. Therefore, it is important to always be cautious around any waterbody and assume that alligators or crocodiles could be present.”

Tips to Stay Safe

If you do see a crocodile while visiting Florida, Claerbout shares the following safety tips on behalf of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission:

• 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 fishing or improperly disposing of fish scraps.  
• Keep a safe distance if you see a crocodile. If you are concerned, call the FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286) for help assessing the situation and responding appropriately.
• 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.