The state sent a trapper to catch it. Published July 12, 2013 • Updated on July 12, 2013 at 10:27 pm ", Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. The Tampa Bay Times reported that for a time the croc resided in the gated community of St. Petersburg’s Caya Costa and then disappeared, eventually finding a home in Lake Tarpon. Croc found in Lake Tarpon traveled 350 miles from South Florida home. They think it might have roamed up to the Manatee River just south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. She'd heard rumors of a crocodile living in the freshwater lake in Tarpon Springs. A photograph of a purported 28-foot alligator first hit the Internet in August 2005, described as a an alligator (of unspecified size) killed in Bay City, Texas. So she called a trapper she had been working with to get rid of alligators near her home. Most of the crocs live in the Crocodile Lake National Refuge in Key Largo or around Turkey Point, a 6,000-acre facility that contains 150 miles of canals full of warm water adjacent to Biscayne Bay. It is listed in the Bassmaster's 100 best bass lakes of 2013. Lake Tarpon is a 2,534-acre Fish Management Area near Tarpon Springs, in Pinellas County. Clearwater, FL 33760, Walgreens - 3770 Tampa Road Oldsmar, FL 34677, Walgreens - 7400 66th St., Pinellas Park Tampa, 33781. Lake Tarpon is known to have a HUGE alligator population, I think "Tarpie" is feeding on baby, and even larger gators. Country club residents were not happy. They are found in South Florida, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. Then state officials trucked the critter they're now calling "the Lake Tarpon Crocodile" all the way back to the area south of Homestead, back to where its journey began nine years ago, and released it there July 29. It showed up briefly last fall on a lawn in St. Petersburg's Caya Costa, a gated community that borders Tampa Bay, then disappeared again. This 2,500 acre lake provides recreation and enjoyment for thousands in the Tampa Bay area. Wildlife officials say it's unusual for the the animal to have strayed so far north. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) fisheries biologists regularly sample bass during electrofishing surveys on this lake. In fact, Lake Tarpon is rated one of […] Trapping the 700-pound beast in the lake took about four hours. "Man, after seeing that thing and how big it was," she said, "I'm just not afraid of gators anymore. Although the largemouth bass population and size structure is excellent, fishing pressure is relatively low. Clearwater Beach, FL 33767, Walgreens - 2991 Roosevelt Blvd. She'd heard rumors of a crocodile … Its watershed encompasses 52 square miles (130 km 2) including the two largest tributaries, South Creek and Brooker Creek. Florida is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist. An 11-foot American crocodile captured last month in Lake Tarpon was born near the Turkey Point nuclear plant in South Florida in 1999 and has apparently traveled quite a bit over the past few years including stops in Naples. What drove the champ to swim so far? Florida Fish & Wildlife trappers have captured an unusual visitor to Lake Tarpon...a huge crocodile. In 2008, the croc - now dubbed "the Lake Tarpon Crocodile" - was spotted on the golf course at Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples, Morse said. "Wildlife tends to move around a lot," he said. There's no telling, Morse said. I've heard of crocs making it this far north. It has been wandering for quite a while. Since 1975 their numbers have increased from less than 300 to more than 1,500 adults. Lake Tarpon, the "Jewel of Pinellas County" is located about 10 miles West of Tampa in Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs Florida. I've had photos sent to me of bluegill and crappie caught near the St. Lucie Inlet. Wildlife officials say it's unusual for the the animal to have strayed so far north. How do they know this was the same crocodile? The 11-foot American Crocodile, which is on the Federal Endangered Species list, had been living in the lake and evading capture for more than a year. TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) - Wildlife experts say an 11-foot American crocodile captured in Lake Tarpon was born near the Turkey Point nuclear plant in South Florida in 1999. The crocodile is on the federal endangered list and officials say there are only about 2,000 in Florida. Hord released it into the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Reserve south of Naples, where it quickly swam away. Trappers remove a huge 11 foot crocodile from Florida's Lake Tarpon. An 11' American Crocodile was removed from Lake Tarpon late Monday night. TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) - Wildlife experts say an 11-foot American crocodile captured in Lake Tarpon was born near the Turkey Point nuclear plant in South Florida in 1999. In 1957 he traveled 300 miles from the Florida Keys to Lake Tarpon in Central Florida, farther north than any other American Salt water crocodile on record. July 15, 2013. Lake Tarpon is a freshwater lake located about 10 miles (16 km) west of Tampa in Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs, Florida. That time, state wildlife officials left it alone. Trappers Catch 11-Foot-Long Crocodile in Lake Tarpon The 700-pound American Crocodile has been loose in Lake Tarpon for a while, but was captured Monday night. With a little sleuthing, lakefront or lake view property can be found along Lake Tarpon's shores. Lake Tarpon is an easy commute from many Florida metropolitan areas, and real estate is always available. Craig Pittman can be reached at craig@tampabay.com, Environment, Growth and Development Reporter, Dontae Morris defense asks judge to toss video of police killings. Lake Activities Abound. Morse said the crocodile probably used a combination of culverts, creeks, rivers and land to travel to Lake Tarpon, a 2,534-acre lake known for boating, bass fishing and waterfront parks. Vacation rentals are available year-round with cottages, bed-and-breakfasts, and condos common within sight of Lake Tarpon. Jake the Crocodile was a wanderer. We are a full service restaurant with a historical “fish camp” theme, located directly on the beautiful and historic St. Johns river. TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. - When Wanda Vekasi saw a long object floating in Lake Tarpon on Monday evening, she knew it wasn't an alligator. Gary Morse, a fish and wildlife spokesman, said they've been aware of the crocodile in Lake Tarpon for about a year. Officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission say they haven't captured a crocodile this far north. This 2,500 acre lake provides recreation and enjoyment for thousands in the Tampa Bay area. "I have a feeling we're going to see this one again,'' Hord told the Times then. After all, he said, "Croc minds are not particularly large. They demanded the big lizard be evicted, so the state dispatched a trapper who caught it. With 16 miles of shoreline, this lake has an average depth of 8 feet, with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Jake the Crocodile was a wanderer. I've had photos sent to me of snook and tarpon caught in Lake Okeechobee. At that point, it measured 8-feet-4 1/4 inches long. Sometimes wildlife wanderlust ends badly — one Florida panther traveled all the way to Georgia before a deer hunter shot it dead. Serving the interests of Lake Tarpon for 14 years. Lake Tarpon is the largest lake in Pinellas County with a surface area of 2,500 acres (10 km 2). The crocodile was sent to a rehabilitation facility in South Florida and will likely be released back into the wild. On Friday, a Plantation woman who was walking her dogs was killed when she was dragged into a lake by an alligator.. Prices and download plans . Trapper captures crocodile in Lake Tarpon | Bay News 9 07-12-2013, 10:21 AM Sunshinecc : Location: says MA on my license but can be found wandering the beaches of RI. He had big spikes sticking out of his tail. Like all true crocodilians, the American crocodile is a quadruped, with four short, stocky legs; a long, powerful tail; and a scaly hide with rows of ossified scutes running down its back and tail. This body of water stretches along about 16 miles of shoreline, can reach depths of 14 feet and are about eight feet deep on average. American crocodile is a highly fecund species (38 clutch of eggs; fecundity over 20 after 15 years old) with a high adult survival rate and long life span. 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