Crocodiles With Frickin' Magnets Attached to Their Heads

Brickwall writes "Florida, faced with a problem of crocodiles returning to residential neighborhoods after being relocated elsewhere, is trying to solve it by affixing magnets to the crocs' heads. The theory is the crocodiles use the Earth's magnetic field for navigation, and the magnets may interfere with that. What I'd like to know is, whose job is it to put the magnets on?" So far the magnet program appears to be working, unfortunately the crocs have started to collect huge amounts of take-out menus and child artwork.

Comments

Re:Interesting.

[RuBLed]

It seems that it was only used while transporting the crocs to disorient them so that they cannot find their way back.

Crocs? In Florida?

[Brissie_lad]

There are no Crocodiles in Florida, except in zoo's or animal parks. There are plenty of Alligators however.

Re:Crocs? In Florida?

[NoKaOi]

Yeah, crocodiles, in Florida. From the article:
State biologists are studying the temporary use of magnets to disrupt the internal navigation of federally and state-protected American crocodiles, which have been spotted most often in neighborhoods of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

And because every good /. comment requires a wikipedia reference: American Crocodile: "...there is a remnant population of less than 1200 in Florida, United States"

Re:Crocs? In Florida?

[delvsional]

There are no Crocodiles in Florida, except in zoo's or animal parks. There are plenty of Alligators however.

Actually, the article is about crocodiles and it is correct. There are crocodiles. About 2000, the species has made a great comeback from near extinction due in large part to the cooling canals at Turkey Point power plant. There are 186 Miles of cooling canals that are 5 feet deep and 200 feet wide. If you look on google maps near the homestead raceway, it looks like a giant radiator. This area is protected from all civilian interference and the animals thrive there. Other areas that the crocodiles go to are the biscayne bay and the everglades. they travel back and forth using the canal systems.

Crocs? In Florida? Yes, actually.

[Tsar]

There are no Crocodiles in Florida, except in zoo's or animal parks. There are plenty of Alligators however.

These are American crocodiles.
And yes, there are plenty of alligators in Florida—which is why they aren't endangered.
The American crocodile is endangered, however, which is pointed out in article that you didn't read.

Re:Natural selection

[tpgp]

In a few decades, we'll have a race of human-adverse crocs.

In a few decades huh? Your understanding of genetics is as simplistic as your understanding of crocodile behaviour.

As a previous poster has said, the objective is to relocate, not shoot them. This species of animal is also considered vulnerable (quote) or facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designates it as Endangered, or in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The primary threat to this animal comes from habitat loss.

Re:Why?

[tpgp]

I am not the AC you're replying to, but:

What makes you think for a second that I was advocating they be shot?

Maybe because you said "Why not just shoot them?"

Wonder around enough and you'll wonder into a town.

Yeah, but we're not talking about wandering into town, we're talking about them going back to the same place they've been removed from.

Honestly - if you'd read the article, you'd have had no reason to ask the questions you did.

Re:Alligators

[Anonymous Coward]

Apparently not. Most know of the gators, but there are a few crocs out there, too. Read the article or use wikipedia.

Re:Why?

[delvsional]

Actually you can't shoot them because they're protected. There are only about 2000 of them in south Florida.

Re:Florida? Crocs? Huh?

[Xest]

"Alligators in Florida! Crocodiles in Africa, Asia, Australia."

And er... the Americas:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Crocodile

Re:Why?

[devolutionist]

Why not just shoot them? I can't imagine the croc being very happy about being dizzy all the time. More over how does this stop them from wondering in to town?

I don't see the need to mod this -1. I'm from Florida, and "Why not just shoot them?" was the first thing that popped into my head too until I realized that they were really talking about crocs and not alligators - which unfortunately most people don't realize are very different. There alligator population in Florida is in the millions, but there are only a few thousand crocs. Anyway, I thought it was a valid question that deserved a proper answer, not a "fuck you".

Re:Memorable Quotes in Slashdot

[Anonymous Coward]

http://seenonslash.com/

Crocs?

[p51d007]

Shouldn't that be alligators? I thought crocs were in South America, and alligators were in Florida?

Re:Crocs?

[mhall119]

We do have crocodiles, though they are pretty rare in Florida, especially compared to alligators.

Re:Why?

[PriceIke]

> We end up with a bloody Koala problem

It's the cutest infestation ever.

Re:Interesting.

[Synn]

We have both. We have alligators in most of the state and some crocodiles in the southern part of the state.

The alligators are pretty benign. I encounter them all the time when I'm kayaking and they leave you alone. They're pretty scared of people and about the only time they'd attack is if they mistook you for food or if you got between a mama and her babies.

Crocodiles are supposedly territorial though and much more aggressive.

Re:Interesting.

[fwr]

In Florida, five years, after which it is probably useless anyway.

Re:Interesting.

[datapharmer]

Nile Crocs aren't the same as American Crocs. They are two completely different species. And in Florida we have Alligators and American Crocodiles. You can see both in some areas of South Florida around the nuke plants.