Page 34 - November2026LifeInNaples

Nearly Three Decades of Monitoring Later in the season, Resource Management Specialist Steve
Reveal A Brighter Future for Bertone, Environmental Specialist Celina Ceballos, and researchers
from the University of Florida's Croc Docs program returned under
American Crocodiles the cover of darkness to find, measure, and mark the crocodile
hatchlings. Hours later, just before midnight, the team finally heard
at Rookery Bay the words they had been hoping for: "We found a hatchling." The
young crocodile was carefully captured and briefly examined before
ach spring, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research being released.
Reserve staff begin a new season of the Reserve's longest- The Reserve's monitoring efforts are revealing encouraging trends.
Between 1998 and 2019, researchers documented only 16 crocodile
Erunning wildlife monitoring efforts. American crocodile nests
sightings a year, but from 2020 through 2025, that number increased
are monitored using trail cameras and weekly field observations, with
dramatically to 53 sightings.
additional site visits conducted with researchers from the University
Even hatchlings monitored at Rookery Bay are beginning to tell
of Florida. Nearly three decades of conservation and scientific
their own stories. One young crocodile first marked at the Reserve in
collaboration has helped document the return of a species once 2023 was recaptured several miles away just two years later, providing
thought to be nearly absent from Southwest Florida. valuable insight into how juvenile crocodiles use Southwest Florida's
During runway improvements at the Marco Island Airport in estuaries.
1996, several crew members recognized a crocodile nearby. A biologist As American crocodile sightings become more common
confirmed they were indeed American crocodiles, prompting state and throughout Southwest Florida, Rookery Bay researchers are
federal agencies, in conjunction with Rookery Bay and the University continuing to expand their understanding of the species. Future
of Florida, to develop a monitoring plan to ensure construction would work includes searching for additional nesting sites, conducting
not disturb nesting activity. That collaboration eventually evolved into contaminant studies, expanding spotlight surveys, maintaining the
the monitoring program that Rookery Bay continues today. Reserve's long-term sighting database, and educating the public about
This season's cameras once again revealed just how attentive safely coexisting with crocodiles.
American crocodile mothers can be. Throughout the summer, the You can help Rookery Bay and the University of Florida track
cameras recorded an assortment of curious visitors investigating crocodiles in Southwest Florida by emailing crocodile sighting
the nest. Remarkably, the female crocodile kept an eye on the nest information and pictures to Rookery Bay Environmental A
throughout the season, fending off any predators and smoothing out Specialist Cody Weber at Cody.W.Weber@FloridaDEP.gov.
the sand over the nest after any disturbance.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2026
COCKTAILS

SILENT AUCTION

LIVE AUCTION Join Co-Chairs Connie Leon & David Houghton for an
FINE DINING unforgettable evening celebrating Opera Naples
and its impact on our community
SOARING LIVE OPERA

LIVE BAND & DANCING SCAN for TICKETS

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