The homeowner said he saw the crocodile swimming in the pool Thursday morning. The reptile walked out of the pool and into the ocean after police and wildlife officials arrived, CBS Miami reported.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Becky Herrin said an Islamorada homeowner called about 7:30 a.m. Thursday to report the croc in his pool. A photo provided by the sheriff’s office shows the large reptile floating languidly in the shallow end of the pool. Herrin said the animal was about 8 feet long.
“Sheriff’s Office and Fish and Wildlife officers worked together and the crocodile was safely removed and returned to the ocean,” said Monroe sheriff’s spokeswoman Becky Herrin said.
The American crocodile is designated as a federal threatened species. It lives mainly in brackish waters of South Florida and the Keys.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
