I love the intersection of wildlife and powersports, wherever and whenever that occurs. Usually, however, it isn't for good reasons, i.e., the Cody Roberts situation. But more often than not, there are feel-good stories out there. They're just buried, only for us to dig them up.
And the American crocodile is one of those stories, as the threatened species is making a comeback, even in the face of ever-expanding housing developments. That's great news for conservation and the conservation efforts that fuel it, as we definitely need those wins right now. But the reason for the croc's comeback, at least in part, is one that's particularly funny, as it's in large part thanks to those same homeowners' push into those places.
See, crocodiles like to bask in the sun. This lets them recharge and recoup. It's the typical behavior you've likely seen in countless animal programs or in TV and movie, as the crocodiles or alligators sleep on a river, inlet, or lake's banks. But with all that housing going in, and the docks these folks install to keep their toys wet, the American crocodile has chosen a new bank to sleep on: PWCs.
Get these crocs some Heat Wave glasses and a tank top, stat!
The news comes from The Wildlife Society, but I saw it on Defector first. The original paper, however, is titled a hilarious, "American crocodiles on jet skis: Conflict or coexistence?"
According to the paper's abstract, "American crocodiles in southern Florida have been increasing in number since receiving federal protection in the mid-20th century. As the species is now often observed outside of protected areas, the potential for human-wildlife interactions has also increased. Much of the crocodile's historic coastal habitat has experienced extensive development, requiring the use of anthropogenic features of the landscape."
It's not an unheard of case study, though, as we as a society have consistently moved into animal domains, taking over habitats and migration corridors, and pushing animal-human conflicts more out into the open. See lion and bear attacks becoming more common in California and Colorado, bear issues in Florida, and the overwhelming issues with whitetail deer in the Midwest. Managing those issues, however, seems to be less of a priority for folks, as people forget we're a part of the ecosystem, too.
The abstract goes on, stating, "Today, American crocodiles in the region are frequently observed basking on docks, paddleboards, jet-skis, and other recreational equipment. Although this behavior is a common source of complaints among the general public, we argue it represents an essential adaption allowing for the continued recovery of the species." So there you go, PWCs are "essential" to the continued recovery of the American crocodile, which is hysterical.
I'm just picturing a croc using a Sea-Doo or Kawasaki to go fishing, cracking a beer, or jetting off into the sunset over glass-like water. They definitely have a mullet, too. But who's in for a win for the American croc?!
