An Alligator and Crocodile Swim in Florida's Ocean on the East Coast

Florida is a strange place. It is known for its unique quirkiness, off-beat happenings, and odd sightings; including UFO's and reports of the elusive "skunk ape," a big-foot type creature. To put it simply, I love Florida, because aside from being a paradise, minus the humidity and bugs in the summertime, nutty things that happen are the norm.

Locals barely raise an eyebrow over some odd piece of news, chocking whatever new oddity up to being "just one of those things." That is why Florida is a haven for writers. There are so many things to write about from both a non-fiction and fiction angle. The real-time events happening in Florida are always stranger than fiction, and make the most seasoned of fiction writers scratch their head in disbelief at times. Now this has to take be the ultimate oddity, aside from the giant pythons coming out of the Everglades to swim in the oceans.

On June 20th 2009, in Brevard County at the beach, there was a sighting in the water of not just an alligator, but a crocodile as well! This is not a made-up posting on the internet to stir up a new urban legend. Both the crocodile and gator were spotted by stunned lifeguards in Cocoa Beach and seen by News 13 cameras in the shallow ocean section near Hightower Beach, heading forth from the Cocoa Beach area.

Florida's gators tend to leave their freshwater environs only to mate, traveling through saltwater habitats rarely, but it does happen, as witnessed. Climate change, hurricanes, droughts usually displace gators. During floods, people have seen gators floating by them on the sidewalks, fish too. Now what does one do if they see a gator or croc swimming near them in the ocean water? Get out, take a picture with your camera or cell phone once on dry land, and call authorities. Never try to swim close to one. They are not like the gentle manatee. What is not known is if a gator or croc will attack when in the ocean. They have been known to attack people, killing them and animals in the canal waters and other fresh water territories. They don't kill for sport, they kill for food.

The croc and alligator "captured" on film by News 13, seemed to be on a steadfast mission, as they swam along on route to their freshwater paradise; the call of nature and probable mating propelling them forward. They could not stay in the ocean forever, for they would only survive a few days at best, yet that doesn't make them any less dangerous. If anything, this was a sight to behold, and one story that will be told for years to come from those who witnessed it.

Sources:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
http://myfwc.com/

Seeing Double? Crocodile, Alligator Spotted Near Hightower Beach
http://www.cfnews13.com/
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:18:12 PM
Reported for News 13 by Greg Pallone