Perceptions and tolerance of American crocodiles and their management by South Florida residents

Abstract

The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is a federally and state‐protected species classified as threatened by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of Florida; however, its population has increased since gaining legal protection in 1967. Concurrently, the number of reported human–crocodile conflicts has also increased, analogous to known conflicts surrounding other large (typically terrestrial) predators recovering from historical population declines. Although biology and ecology are the foundation of effective wildlife management strategies, human dimensions need to be considered to develop realistic and attainable conservation objectives. To better understand how South Florida residents perceive American crocodiles and their management, we used a mixed‐mode internet and mail survey. We obtained survey data from 28 May 2021 to 20 September 2021 from people living within the range of the American crocodile in Florida. There was little variation in opinions of 6 management actions presented for consideration under each of 3 different human–crocodile interaction scenarios. The strongest consensus was around euthanizing a crocodile (highly unacceptable under all 3 scenarios) with the management action of leaving the crocodile alone and monitoring the situation showing the least amount of consensus and shifting from slightly acceptable to slightly unacceptable the closer a hypothetical crocodile was in proximity to a resident's private property. Regression modeling showed respondents who were older, female, and those with children at home were less likely to prefer an increase in the crocodile population. Respondents who perceived more benefits from crocodiles and less risk from them tended to be relatively knowledgeable about crocodiles, had higher trust in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and were more likely to prefer a larger crocodile population. Further, spatial mapping revealed variation in tolerance for crocodiles and trust in FWC's ability to manage them. We reveal opportunities for targeted education and outreach efforts with the potential to affect tolerance of a large reptilian carnivore in a region experiencing rapid human development.