Police warn public after crocodile kills pet dog in South Miami

Police are warning families to watch their children and pets around canals, ponds and other waterways after an American crocodile killed a dog in South Miami on Thursday.

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The dog was walking in the area of the 6200 block of Southwest 64th Court when the croc attacked it, the South Miami Police Department said in a statement.

The department did not immediately respond to a request for more details. The dog’s owner told WTVJ-NBC 6 that the pet was a rescued shepherd mix named Kygo, which was in the family’s backyard when it was attacked.

Police did issue a statement, however, urging people to keep an eye on their children and pets.

“Please keep children and pets away from canals, waterways, ponds, and other areas where a crocodile may be present. Do not approach, feed, harass, or attempt to capture the animal,” the department said.

Unlike alligators, their more common cousins, American crocodiles are federally and state protected because their populations in Florida are still rebounding after being almost completely wiped out by the 1970s.

“Crocodiles are a protected species under Florida and Federal law. Members of the public should not attempt to harm or relocate the animal. If you see a crocodile, maintain a safe distance and report the sighting to the appropriate wildlife authorities,” the statement continued.

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“Please share this warning with neighbors, particularly residents with pets who live or walk in the area.”

South Florida and the Florida Keys are the northernmost tip of the America crocodile’s habitat range, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They are also found on Hispaniola and in Cuba and Jamaica as well as along the Caribbean coast from southern Mexico to Venezuela and the Pacific coast from Mexico to Peru, according to the FWC.

They are typically wary of people and less aggressive than alligators. There have been very few recorded crocodile attacks on humans in Florida, but they are known to attack pets, particularly in the Keys.

Due to conservation efforts, the crocodile population in South Florida is believed to be well above 2,000 reptiles, according to the FWC. Because of their protected status, other than occasionally relocating nuisance crocs, wildlife officials usually leave them alone.

Killing a crocodile is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Officers with the FWC are investigating the South Miami incident, FWC spokeswoman Melissa Brevik said.

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The FWC offered the following tips to stay safe around crocodiles:

• Keep a safe distance if you see a crocodile. Those with concerns should call the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).
• Keep pets on leashes and small children away from the water’s edge, especially at night. Alligator and crocodile attacks are often cases of mistaken identity, and pets can resemble the reptile’s natural prey.
• Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pets. 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 humans with food. This includes indirect feeding, which can happen when feeding other wildlife or when improperly disposing fish scraps.