MIAMI HERALD (Florida) 23 December 04 What a croc: New trap set for beast (Monica Hatcher)
Photo of machine at URL below: The 'Croc-Tanic': Todd Hardwick of Pesky Critters designed the 12-foot trap to catch a croc in a lake. (Patrick Farrell)
In the hunt for a rare American crocodile playing out at the University of Miami, trappers have added a new weapon to their arsenal.
The contraption is called the ''Croc-tanic'' -- a kind of floating, 12-foot croc tanning bed designed by trapper Todd Hardwick of Pesky Critters, who's been trying to capture the elusive crocodile for about two weeks now.
The product of sheer human ingenuity and nine trips to Home Depot, the Croc-tanic made its maiden voyage to the center of Lake Osceola Wednesday morning in front of a crowd of anxious onlookers.
''When I pushed it into the lake it hadn't been tested and everyone was wondering whether it would sink of float,'' Hardwick said.
The invention is simple and should work -- provided the crocodile cooperates.
Here's how it works:
On a chilly day, the croc will crawl upon the floating deck, which some say resembles an oil rig, to sun himself. Once he falls asleep, Hardwick, watching carefully from the shore, will pull a cord releasing a net that will engulf the croc, capturing him alive and unharmed.
While crocodiles have brains the size of a walnut, they are pretty intelligent creatures. The Lake Osceola resident is no different -- he's figured out the trappers are out for him, armed with grappling hooks to snag his leathery hide.
On Wednesday, he swam no closer than 500 feet to the platform.
Hardwick plans on staking out the lake for the next four or five days to see whether his trap gets the job done.
The University of Miami had called Hardwick in a few weeks ago to remove a different croc, the eight-foot misnamed male, Donna. During Donna's capture on Dec. 12, the second croc made his debut.
Once captured, the latest squatter will face the same fate: being tagged and relocated to the Southern Glades Wildlife Management Area near the Miami-Dade and Monroe county line.
''We'd love to see this resolved as soon as possible,'' said Margot Winick, a university spokeswoman. ``We're hoping we can start the new year afresh with no animals in the lake.''
No problem, swears Hardwick.
''We have absolutely a great way to catch the crocodile,'' said the animal expert. ``The Croc-tanic will go down in history.''
What a croc: New trap set for beast