The cold spell Sanibel experienced recently was too much for the island's long-time Crocodile resident. Often seen sunning along the bank of the Ding Darling Wildlife Drive and frequent visitor in Chateau Sur Mer's lake, the giant reptile could not survive our record cold temperatures.
Sanibel Island is in the northern range of the American Crocodile. Found scattered in mangrove swamps and waterways, this reptile is an amazing creature.
Both the Alligator and Crocodile play a major role in the cycle of life and the food chain. Birds will nest over the reptile's range because rookeries surrounded by gators are safe from many predators such as raccoons, possums, and snakes.
Fun Fact: The northernmost recorded American Crocodile in recent history was first spotted on Sanibel in the early '80s. She was captured on Pine Island in 1986 and relocated 70 miles south to a breeding population of American Crocodiles in the Collier County Seminole State Park. Permanently marked by the removal of the third scale on her tail, the Crocodile was found back on Pine Island and then the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge 6 months later. Residents living in the "Conservation Corridor" became fond of their frequent crocodile sightings and enjoyed watching the female dig nests for her unfertilized eggs. It was a sad day for all when Dee Serage-Century discovered the Crocodile dead on the bank of the Sanibel River. Statements from Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge Manager Paul Tritiak, Refuge Ranger Toni Westland, and other volunteers can be found on the Ding Darling Website.
2021 Update: Since this article was written in 2010, Sanibel has two American Crocodiles that call the Dunes Golf Course home.
2021 Photo Credit: Bill LeJeune