Fish and Wildlife Service proposes American crocodile in Florida to be downlisted from endangered to threatened
One of America’s rarest reptiles, the American crocodile, has so improved
that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to reclassify it from
“endangered” to the less-dire status of “threatened” in its Florida range.
Annual monitoring of the crocodile’s distinct population segment (DPS) in
Florida and its nesting activity there show the criteria for
reclassification from endangered to threatened have been achieved.
The Service also proposes to initiate a five-year review of the species.
The purpose of a five-year review is to ensure that listed species have the
appropriate level of protection under the Endangered Species Act. A
five-year review considers all information that has become available since
the original listing of the American crocodile and will evaluate population
data, factors affecting the species, and ongoing conservation measures.
“Extensive monitoring of the American crocodile population in Florida has
been conducted for many years. Today, the population of American
crocodiles in Florida has grown from less than 300 individuals to an
estimated 500 to 1,000 individuals, not including hatchlings. The nesting
range has also expanded on both the east and west coasts of the state since
the American crocodile was listed,” said Sam D. Hamilton, the Service’s
Southeast Regional Director. “We propose to reclassify the crocodile to
threatened only within its current range in Florida, including coastal
areas of Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Collier Counties.”
Since 1975, when the crocodile was protected under the Endangered Species
Act, its numbers
have climbed from 10 to 20 nesting females concentrated in a small area in
northeastern Florida Bay. Crocodiles now are seen frequently throughout
most of their historical range in Florida, including Key Largo, Biscayne
Bay, Florida Bay and even occasional nests on the southwest coast and Marco
Island. During 2003, 61 crocodile nests were discovered in south Florida,
and nesting has increased for several years. It is suspected that the
actual number of nesting females may be higher than the 61 nests recorded.
Approximately 95 percent of the remaining crocodile habitat in south
Florida has been acquired by federal, state and county agencies and is now
protected from development. These protected areas should allow the
crocodile population to expand and may provide additional nesting
opportunities, Hamilton said. Criteria in the crocodile’s recovery plan are
primarily based on the number of nests and nesting females.
If this proposal is finalized, the American crocodile DPS in Florida will
continue to be federally protected as a threatened species. Federal
agencies would still need to ensure that activities they authorize, fund or
carry out are not likely to jeopardize its continued existence. The
American crocodile throughout the remainder of its range outside of the
United States would remain endangered. The state of Florida provides legal
protection for the American crocodile within the State. The American
crocodile is listed as endangered under the Florida Wildlife Code.
The American crocodile is a large greenish-gray reptile. It is one of two
native crocodilians (the other, the American alligator) that occur in the
continental United States. The American crocodile is distinguished from the
American alligator by a relatively narrow, more pointed snout and by an
indentation in the upper jaw that leaves the fourth tooth of the lower jaw
exposed when the mouth is closed. In Florida, the American crocodile
ranges in size from 10.3 inches at hatching to an upper length of 12.5
feet.
The American crocodile is found in coastal regions of the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts, southern Mexico, Central America and northern South
America, as well as the Caribbean islands. In the United States, the
crocodile is limited in distribution to the southern tip of mainland
Florida and the upper Florida Keys.
The Service invites public comments on its proposal to reclassify the
American crocodile distinct vertebrate population segment in Florida from
endangered to threatened status and to aid in the five-year review process
for the species. Comments may be directed to the Field Supervisor, South
Florida Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, Florida. 32960, and will be accepted through
May 23, 2005. Requests for a public hearing must be submitted to the same
address by May 9, 2005. For more information, contact the address above
or call 772/562-3909.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency
responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and
plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American
people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
System that encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national
fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 81 ecological services
field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the
Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores
national significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat
such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation
efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes
hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting
equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
Fish and Wildlife Service proposes American crocodile in Florida to be downlisted from endangered to threatened
One of America’s rarest reptiles, the American crocodile, has so improved
that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to reclassify it from
“endangered” to the less-dire status of “threatened” in its Florida range.
Annual monitoring of the crocodile’s distinct population segment (DPS) in
Florida and its nesting activity there show the criteria for
reclassification from endangered to threatened have been achieved.
The Service also proposes to initiate a five-year review of the species.
The purpose of a five-year review is to ensure that listed species have the
appropriate level of protection under the Endangered Species Act. A
five-year review considers all information that has become available since
the original listing of the American crocodile and will evaluate population
data, factors affecting the species, and ongoing conservation measures.
“Extensive monitoring of the American crocodile population in Florida has
been conducted for many years. Today, the population of American
crocodiles in Florida has grown from less than 300 individuals to an
estimated 500 to 1,000 individuals, not including hatchlings. The nesting
range has also expanded on both the east and west coasts of the state since
the American crocodile was listed,” said Sam D. Hamilton, the Service’s
Southeast Regional Director. “We propose to reclassify the crocodile to
threatened only within its current range in Florida, including coastal
areas of Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Collier Counties.”
Since 1975, when the crocodile was protected under the Endangered Species
Act, its numbers
have climbed from 10 to 20 nesting females concentrated in a small area in
northeastern Florida Bay. Crocodiles now are seen frequently throughout
most of their historical range in Florida, including Key Largo, Biscayne
Bay, Florida Bay and even occasional nests on the southwest coast and Marco
Island. During 2003, 61 crocodile nests were discovered in south Florida,
and nesting has increased for several years. It is suspected that the
actual number of nesting females may be higher than the 61 nests recorded.
Approximately 95 percent of the remaining crocodile habitat in south
Florida has been acquired by federal, state and county agencies and is now
protected from development. These protected areas should allow the
crocodile population to expand and may provide additional nesting
opportunities, Hamilton said. Criteria in the crocodile’s recovery plan are
primarily based on the number of nests and nesting females.
If this proposal is finalized, the American crocodile DPS in Florida will
continue to be federally protected as a threatened species. Federal
agencies would still need to ensure that activities they authorize, fund or
carry out are not likely to jeopardize its continued existence. The
American crocodile throughout the remainder of its range outside of the
United States would remain endangered. The state of Florida provides legal
protection for the American crocodile within the State. The American
crocodile is listed as endangered under the Florida Wildlife Code.
The American crocodile is a large greenish-gray reptile. It is one of two
native crocodilians (the other, the American alligator) that occur in the
continental United States. The American crocodile is distinguished from the
American alligator by a relatively narrow, more pointed snout and by an
indentation in the upper jaw that leaves the fourth tooth of the lower jaw
exposed when the mouth is closed. In Florida, the American crocodile
ranges in size from 10.3 inches at hatching to an upper length of 12.5
feet.
The American crocodile is found in coastal regions of the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts, southern Mexico, Central America and northern South
America, as well as the Caribbean islands. In the United States, the
crocodile is limited in distribution to the southern tip of mainland
Florida and the upper Florida Keys.
The Service invites public comments on its proposal to reclassify the
American crocodile distinct vertebrate population segment in Florida from
endangered to threatened status and to aid in the five-year review process
for the species. Comments may be directed to the Field Supervisor, South
Florida Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, Florida. 32960, and will be accepted through
May 23, 2005. Requests for a public hearing must be submitted to the same
address by May 9, 2005. For more information, contact the address above
or call 772/562-3909.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency
responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and
plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American
people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
System that encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national
fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 81 ecological services
field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the
Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores
national significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat
such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation
efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes
hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting
equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.