There are crocodiles in Florida?

 A group mate and I were shocked to find out that both crocodiles and alligators live in Florida while we were at the National Key Deer Refuge Nature Center. We soon learned that Florida serves as a home to both, but they are located in different areas throughout the state. 

Alligators are known to be abundant throughout Florida, and they are usually found in freshwater. According to the National Park Service, South Florida is the only location in the world where both species live together. The American Crocodile is known to live in salt and brackish water, while alligators inhabit freshwater locations. The crocodiles can only live in the southernmost areas of Florida where the temperature is constant, and alligators can be located in some states surrounding Florida.

Both species can be difficult to distinguish, so it’s helpful to know that crocodiles have five toes on their front feet and four toes on their back feet. Crocodile snouts are also triangular, and the fourth tooth on their lower mouth sticks out when their snouts are closed. Alligators are typically darker and have larger mouths when compared to crocodiles. Click HERE to learn more about the differences between alligators and crocodiles, and other facts about them as well. 

Here is a photo I took of a key deer eating berries out of a tree!

The National Key Deer Refuge Nature Center mainly focuses on the key deer, but we also learned that alligators and crocodiles are aiding in their extinction since the deer are prey to them. Alligators and crocodiles will prey on key deer fawns who have been separated from their mothers, or if they were injured. The tiny white-tailed deer are also facing habitat destruction, along with being killed by automobiles. Click HERE to find out more about the endangered key deer. 

#americanalligator #americancrocodile #keydeer