AMAZING
ANIMALS
Homestead, Florida
This might be the best egg hunt ever.
Scientists were excited to find a
record number of American crocodile
hatchlings at the Turkey Point Nuclear
Generating Station last year: 568!
That’s good news, because about a
quarter of all crocs in the United
States call this spot home.
In the 1970s, habitat loss and hunt-
ing caused the American crocodile
population to dwindle to fewer than
300 animals. But in 1978, workers at
the power plant found a nest along thehuman-made cooling canals, which
happen to be perfect croc nurseries.
So conservationists decided to start
studying and tracking these animals.
By capturing and releasing the hatch-
lings in safer areas, they help protect
them from predators like birds, crabs,
turtles, and even other crocodiles.
Over the decades, this team has
processed, tagged, and released over
8,000 hatchlings. “Crocodiles are big,
toothy creatures, so they have a bad
reputation,” says wildlife biologist MikeLloret, who works at the plant. “It’s
important to respect them, but we
can learn to live alongside them with-
out fear.” —Bethany AugliereCheck out more stories, tips, and
crafts to help the planet!
natgeokids.com/planetMAKE IT
SNAPPY!American
Crocodile
Comeback^ Critter:
A BIOLOGIST
HOLDS CROCODILE
HATCHLINGS AT
TURKEY POINT
NUCLEAR GENER-
ATING STATION.Only
experts should
handle wild
animals!10 NAT GEO KIDS^ • JUNE / JULY 2022