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Problem Crocodile
I've asked the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary, ACES folks, to capture and relocate a problem crocodile from our neighborhood.
It's extremely rare that a crocodile comes to the beach side of the island, they like the lagoons in the back.
There are two large stands of mangrove between Portofino and Costa Maya that this crocodile is suspect of living in. He's been sighted swimming among the docks in this area and I've photographed him under Don Listwin's dock at Canary Cove.
American Crocodile Education Sanctuary guys are pros at catching and relocating problem crocs.
It's unlikely the crocodile would be a threat to an adult swimmer in the area however as my neighbors and myself know quite a few dogs have disappeared in the last few months and the croc will for sure be safer living in the lagoons.

http://vimeo.com/24437432 http://vimeo.com/24437432

If you want to see a very strange bee-thing, watch Jackass III.

Yes, I watched it. My nephew made me. Two guys playing tether-ball with a bee-hive, whilst wearing only bear ears and maybe a diaper ...... not the most disgusting part of the movie but definitely one of the dumber pranks. These were some very upset bees.

I think your on the wrong thread?????

Elbert, Nice video of a really good organization! Thanks!

I would like to see the crocodile sanctuary here on Ambergris.
Preserved habitat is Preserved Habitat. Everything would benefit.
These guys need money and sponsors, they seem to be struggling from lack of funding.
My little check for removing this problem croc. won't do much.

You're right Elbert - where is the one about the bees?!
Senior Moment.

We just got 2 new dogs/puppys and I'm feeling like I'm just feeding the croc.

I hope your "just" was in the right place there, Elbert... First reading I understood as "I just feel like feeding the croc"... but i know you're kinder hearted than that, puppies aren't THAT much trouble!

It ate two of my other dogs and so i got two more and now it seems to be stalking them, I'm just frustrated and don't want to be supplying more dogs to the predator.
I have syntax problems sometimes.
we think we're using the language, but language is doing the thinking, we're its slavish agents."
(Harry Mathews)

too many bee stings?

And we have the Great Horned Owl stalking my kitties. NOT GOOD!

American Crocodile Education Sanctuary guys are pros at catching and relocating problem crocs.
It's unlikely the crocodile would be a threat to an adult swimmer in the area however as my neighbors and myself know quite a few dogs have disappeared in the last few months and the croc will for sure be safer living in the lagoons.

WOULD ALL THE DOGS AND CHILDREN LIVING BY THE LAGOON BE SAFER WITH THE CROCS LIVINGS THERE?

We need a sanctuary on the island don't we.
a place they can relocate all these problem crocs to so that they don't just become a problem for someone else.

I have one on Caye Caulker but we have never taken in any outside crocs at the Caye Caulker Nature Reserve.

I was just informed that a neighbor passed a croc a day or so ago - in the mangroves along the beach south of Costa Maya. Presumably this was the croc noted by Elbert. He said that the croc was badly injured, had crushed back legs and lacerations and appeared to be dying. He thought it had been run over by a boat - but who knows.
Did ACES do anything to attempt a relocation?

Wow, this is the first ACES has heard of the injury. Anyone with any information pleases call me at 666-3871. ACES did respond the Elbert's plea of removing a large croc from the seaside on June 16th from 5 to 9pm. No croc was sited. ACES was told funding was going to be raised, since we are a non-profit and rescue crocs out of pocket, for ACES to set a trap to relocate it. ACES has not received any reports of the croc since we responded. So, if anyone out there can call me please and give us more information it would be greatly appreciated so that we can respond. Exact location. Assessment of injuries. Last seen.
Thank you!
Cherie

The person who saw the croc is about to give ACES a call.

These guys are on the job but it will take a while.

Results were .....?

I have hopes of the Mata Lagoon becoming the Sanctuary.
http://matalagoon.blogspot.com/

Croc trap.. that's a chicken in the middle... It was empty this morning at 5:30 am

very interesting graci

The ACES people put it out last night after some of the neighbours confirmed the sighting.

Nothing yet, but ACES will be up today to re-bait the trap.

Has anyone seen the injured croc (we've started calling "Croc Elbert") up at the Coast Maya area in the last couple days? Vince is on his way to rebait the trap.

snappy name!

I discovered another nest with eggs this morning. This one looks raided and dug by raccoon, most of the eggs are eaten already.
If you interested I'll show you guys when you check the trap.

I looked up to see Moma watching me! I could be wrong about the nest being dug up and eaten, this might have been her digging and its a hatching.
photo is 30min. old

Nothing like spotting a big old croc while looking at a nest! YIKES!!!!

GREAT SHOT .I HOPE YOU RAN QUICK .LOL.

Yes Elbert, I would love to see it! And take a GPS and collect a shell for measurements. What is a good time for you tomorrow?
Have you seen any hatchlings anywhere yet? I found some down south.
Cherie
Is this the one near Las Terraz?

yes,right behind at the lagoons edge.
It was still there this morning.

Has anyone spotted the croc in the last few days?

No, I checked the trap this morning. The chicken is gone but the door is still open.

smart croc

We're heading up north and since there hasn't been any recent sightings we're going to take down the net for now. The saltwater is taking a tool on it. If anyone sees the croc please call us 631-6366 or 666-3871.
We're going to stop at Las Terraz on the way up to find the nest, may give you a call Elbert if we can't find it. I think I know where it is.
Cherie

Hi Middle Island Residents -

Rodrigo from Costa Maya has asked that I inform you of a crocodile that has been sighted just to the south of Costa Maya, on the beach.

The crocodile rescue/relocation people have been notified.

Please do not approach the animal, and do not attempt to catch it or otherwise interact with it - leave that for the people who understand what to do.

Will let you know if the croc has been moved (or seems to have moved along on its own). Kindly let ACES know if you see this croc or any other on the beach side - inform ACES of location, time of sighting and any other particulars.
phone #'s - 631-6366 or 666-3871

Cheers
Diane

CC: Cherie Rose, ACES

We new that as soon as we took the net it would be spotted again. Sneaky croc. Anyways, we're on our way back up as soon as the fuel station opens at 9 am. We will set the trap at a new location and if that doesn't work, we'll spend a night up there until we get it. Any information anyone has is useful and feel free to call 666-3871 anytime.
Cherie

We did find the nest. same spot as the past three years. can you please send the exact time and day you found it uncovered? we were just there a few days ago and it wasn't uncovered, so I'm trying to pinpoint the "hatching day/time." Hard to tell if hatched or raccoon. The eggs are a bit small and the scatter was both towards the water and towards the road. we dug deeper and didn't find anymore so it seem like an awful small number of eggs, unless someone took a couple. So if you have a shell count from when you were and first found it uncovered, that would be very helpful too. Personally, they look like hatched shells, but we have't spotted any hatchlings there yet.

Also Elbert, can you please send me your personal email? I had it before, but lost it on my computer in the fire. Thanks
Cherie
[email protected]

Its [email protected] but don't tell anyone!

I checked the trap this morning and it had been triggered. The bait was not disturbed and I suspect the squall we had last night sprung the cage door. I reset it.
Made me a little nervous wading out in the water to reset the door. I don't know if that's a realistic concern or not but its gave me my morning rush of adventure.

Thanks Elbert. And yes it is nerve racking...you ought to climb in and set the bait sometime.

Whew, rather you than me Cherie.

Anyone that lives on the island knows of and probably spots a "problem croc" on a regular basis.

Thank goodness we have ACES to help us manage these problems in a positive manner.

Any croc action up North last night or this morning?

Thank you Amanda.

Vince is tied up for a few days. We will be un-baiting the croc trap at Canary Cove and leaving it with the door closed until this weekend. We will scout for it some this evening. Please call me if anyone sees the croc in the meantime so we can try to figure out it's routine. My number is 666-3871. Thank you. We will rebait the trap this weekend.

Hello all,
We opt to not take the net down, because finally tonight the wind is down and the smell of the bait is detectable from the seaside for the first time. So we will see if we have a croc in the morning. If anyone see's the croc or the trap set off please call 6663871 or 6316366 anytime...thanks!
Cherie & Vince

Anyone seen any crocs up North? Funny, the one night we had the trap down he was spotted and then nada.

I'll check it this afternoon.

Thanks Elbert!

Hi middle caye residents. ACES stayed until 11:00 pm last night searching beaches and the lagoons for the croc(s). We never spotted any croc beach side and the crocs we did spot on the lagoon side were not large nor injured crocs as reported on the seaside. We did leave the trap set all least week. At the last minute Vince had changed his mind and left it up until just last night. We have other crocs to attend to this week, but please report any sighting(s) and if we can we'll race up there. We haven't given up. Thus far ACES has spent 8 days traveling up and back and a total of 34 hours looking for the croc(s) with no confirmed sighting seaside.
Please stay in touch. We understand the severity of the situation and will do all in our powers to continue to assist. Thank you for your continued support.
Vince & Cherie

thanks. will let the neighbors know.

ACES, Thanks for trying!
If it isn't being sighted it can't be too big of a problem. We'll let you know if it shows up again.

Hi Elbert,
My email for you doesn't seem to work. Anyways, I have contacted Lee Jones about a Christmas Bird Count here on the island. For the first year it will be a "Trail Count" and then next year it would be official. I think it could be huge for the tourism here. Birders will travel hundreds of miles to check a species off their list. Would you be interested in assisting me and Lee in organizing the first Audubon Christmas Bird count on the island?
Cherie

Hi Cherie
Bird count sounds great! With Elbert's blessings I named my place "Birdland." I get lots of tourists with binoculars stopping by. Many of them know the birds way better than do I.
I would love to participate in a count even though I have never done one before.