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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.
It seems that it was only used while transporting the crocs to disorient them so that they cannot find their way back.
Yeah, crocodiles, in Florida. From the article:
/. comment requires a wikipedia reference: American Crocodile:
"...there is a remnant population of less than 1200 in Florida, United States"
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
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.
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.
My pics.
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.
Oh Crap, I'm an optimist.....
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.