Comments on: Crocodile in South Carolina

By: Saint Vitus

Saint Vitus — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:36:30 +0000

According to Robert H. Mount’s book, an American Crocodile was seen in Mobile Bay, Alabama in 1922. Why a crocodile would travel so far from its usual range, I have no idea, but I don’t think it is an escaped captive. This species is not common in captivity, especially private collections. I hope they do send it back to Florida, since that is where it likely originated.

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 05:26:53 +0000

Well, species do have a way of testing the outermost limits of their range. Since the American crocodile is found as far South as Northern Peru, it doesn’t seem that incredibly far fetched that some could have made it up to South Carolina.

By: DWA

DWA — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 21:24:07 +0000

I’d be interested in knowing how much evidence there is of captives nearby in each case in which an animal “out of place” has been purported to be a release from captivity.

Do a lot of people own American Crocodiles? Seems unlikely for an endangered species. At least the alternative is being considered. How about reintroduction, guys?

In 1985, a black bear was shot and killed in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, well over a hundred miles east and south of what was then thought to be the easternmost limit of its Maryland range. All indications were of a wild wanderer. And of course, the bear has forged east ever since.

It does happen.