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Crocodiles With Frickin' Magnets Attached to Their Heads

Posted by samzenpus on from the stick-one-on-the-fridge dept.

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.

3 of 304 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Interesting. by RuBLed · · Score: 5, Informative

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

  2. Re:Crocs? In Florida? by NoKaOi · · Score: 5, Informative

    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"

  3. Crocs? In Florida? Yes, actually. by Tsar · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.