‘Old Gruesome’ Crocodile Lost Its Way In FL Keys Neighborhood: Watch

ISLAMORADA, FL — A large crocodile trying to find its way to a canal got stuck between the roadway along Venetian Boulevard in Islamorada and a fence line Friday morning, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post.

The sheriff’s office received a call about the trapped reptile just after 7 a.m. Authorities feared the crocodile might run into traffic while trying to find water, MCSO said.

The crocodile is known in the area and has been affectionally dubbed “Old Gruesome” by residents, the Miami Herald reported.

Deputies worked with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers and some good Samaritans to wrangle the crocodile and help it find its way to water. (Watch authorities prepare the crocodile for relocation below.)

The uninjured crocodile was released into nearby waters without incident or damage to property, the sheriff’s office said.

Crocodiles are not nearly as prevalent as alligators in Florida. There are about 1.25 million gators in the Sunshine State, according to the Defenders of Wildlife. Meanwhile, there are only about 2,000 crocodiles in the state, FWC said.

Crocodiles live in coastal areas and tend to stick to South Florida and the Florida Keys. They mostly are found in brackish or saltwater areas – ponds, coves and creeks in mangrove swamps – and occasionally go further inland in freshwater areas of Southeast Florida by using the region’s canal system.

Anyone concerned about a crocodile they encounter should call the FWC at 866-392-4286.

Watch authorities wrangle the lost gator and prepare it for relocation to nearby water below: