BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Neighbors in a Satellite Beach community say they’re relieved but saddened after a large crocodile was captured this week, following reports that it killed a pet dog.
Residents said the 11-foot American crocodile was spotted Monday afternoon, swimming through a drainage canal near the intersection of South Patrick Drive and Sea Park Boulevard with what appeared to be a deceased dog in its mouth.
Meanwhile, agents headed out to Brevard County after receiving a report about the crocodile and dog, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
FWC officials didn’t provide any additional details about what the incident entailed.
However, local resident Lea Ann Anderson Savage said on social media that a crocodile had killed a golden retriever in South Patrick Shores, near Sea Park Boulevard and South Patrick Drive.
[BELOW: Savage shares video of FWC agents capturing crocodile]
“My sincere condolences to the owner of the golden retriever,” she wrote. “I know you must be absolutely devastated. I can’t imagine the pain of your loss.”
On Tuesday, FWC officials announced that “after careful consideration,” the crocodile had been placed into permanent captivity.
According to neighbors, the same tagged crocodile, known as No. 40, had previously been relocated to Fort Pierce in 2023, but was later spotted near Sebastian Inlet and returned to the Satellite Beach area.
“It’s been going on for years with the same crocodile,” said resident Joey Antonelli, who recorded video of the reptile before trappers arrived. “I’ve seen the crocodile a few times, but never with a full-size dog in its mouth.”
[BELOW: Video shows Orlando officers removing alligator from local apartment]
Brandon Fisher with Gatorland said American crocodiles are a protected species, meaning wildlife officials typically attempt relocation before considering euthanasia or permanent captivity.
“With a crocodile, they’re a little bit bigger than the native American alligator,” Fisher said. “They’re also a more timid species, but once they get a taste for pets or easy food sources, relocation can become more difficult.”
Officials said that while crocodile sightings are rare in Brevard County, the species has been slowly expanding north along Florida’s east coast.
“Because it got ahold of that dog, now it’s a bigger problem,” Fisher said. “If they released it again, it would probably come back, looking for food.”
The FWC provided the following tips to reduce your chances of conflicts with crocodiles:
- Keep a safe distance if you see a crocodile. If someone is concerned about a crocodile, they should call the FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286), and we will work with you to accurately assess the situation and respond 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.
- 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.