Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Description

The Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System, located in north Key Largo, less than 40 miles (60 km) south of Miami off SR 905 (Card Sound Road). The 6,686 acre (27.1 km²) refuge (located in Monroe County, Florida) opened during the year of 1980, under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973. It was established in order to protect critical breeding and nesting habitat for the threatened American crocodile and other wildlife. This area also includes 650 acres (2.6 km2) of open water in and around the refuge. In addition to being one of only three breeding populations of the American crocodile, the refuge is home to many different habitat species including the tropical hardwood hammock, mangrove forest, and salt marsh. It is administered as part of the National Key Deer Refuge which is also located in southern Florida.

Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge was supposed to be a residential development in the area; however, in the boating access area, dredge-spoil piled up, and as a result of the canal, it became a very important nesting area for the remaining 1400 threatened American crocodiles along with other fauna. In 1975, the American crocodiles had numbered only around 200 in population; however, as of March 20, 2007, the federal government downlisted the American crocodile from endangered to threatened, though the capturing and hunting of the crocodile is still forbidden. The American crocodiles, once ranging in great numbers, had been hunted for exporting its hide and skin. The government labeled the decreased population due to this hunting and also, to loss of habitat in the area. Among the many endangered species, the tropical hardwood hammock is being protected at the refuge (see Hardwood hammock renewal below). The Key Largo Woodrat, Key Largo Cotton Mouse, Schaus Swallowtail butterfly, Stock Island Treesnail and the Eastern Indigo Snake are also diminishing species who need the hammocks to provide the essential necessities for them. Due to certain types of development in the area, these forests' size and population of hammocks depleted, causing the population of those animals who reside in the habitat to also decline in population. Along with refuge manager Steven Klett, Project Leader Phil Frank is currently overseeing several projects and activities which have been designed to help restore the fauna and vegetation to the area. The refuge has been closed to the public because female crocodiles who give birth will leave the nest with even just one disturbance to her young or area.

The main objective of the refuge is to protect some endangered and threatened species, especially the American crocodile. The enhancement of the habitats in the area is for the benefit of the fauna found in south Florida. Some of the activities include the following:

On April 13, 2007, local volunteers Joanne Potts and Clay DeGayner discovered a Burmese python inside Crocodile Lake NWR (see photo below). The 12-pound snake was uncovered from a device used to track a Key Largo Woodrat. The digested woodrat's radio transmitter lead the researchers to the python, which experts claim is the first exotic species found on the islands. “There's a good chance we never would have found him,” said Scott Hardin, exotic-species coordinator for the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “This was always my concern, what would happen when an exotic species like the python intersects with an endangered species. Here it's happened, and it has the potential to be a serious problem.” Hardin later assumed the seven and a half foot snake was either an escaped or released pet by someone who realized the python "[had] become a burden". Walter Meshaka, senior curator for the State Museum of Pennsylvania, stated that pythons are very good swimmers and, therefore, it seemed reasonable to assume it had swam from the Everglades into the Key Largo area refuge. Hardin is attempting to calculate if there are anymore pythons in the refuge and, if there are, he plans to either control or eradicate them.

Crocodile Lake Refuge Sign.

Access To Nesting Areas.

Creating Nesting Sites For Crocodiles.

American Crocodile.

Disturbed Man-Made Channels.

Volunteers from

Final Nesting Site For Crocodiles.

Finished Home Structure for Key Largo Woodrat.

Removing Exotic Vegetation from the Area.

Removing Other Exotics.

Structuring Home for Woodrats among the Hardwood Hammocks.

Refuge Restoration.

Volunteers Help with Levy Restoration.

Burmese python found in refuge.

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