MIAMI HERALD (Florida) 19 January 05 UM crocodile returns -- along with students
Coral Gables: While students were moving back on campus at the University of Miami for the start of spring semester this week, an endangered American crocodile was also settling back into his watery dorm in Lake Osceola.
''It's bizarre,'' said Todd Hardwick, a trapper who has been hired by the university to capture any crocodile creeping around campus. ``The animal disappeared within hours of us putting in the croc trap, that was the day campus closed [Dec. 15].
``We haven't seen him until all the students started coming back with their boxes Monday.''
Hardwick said he removed the ''Croc-tanic'' trap last week, which may have been why the croc felt comfortable resuming his favorite campus abode.
Yet, Hardwick admits, he's not sure which croc has returned. It could be the nearly eight-footer he removed in mid-December or the nine-footer that has eluded capture since then.
Hardwick said he'll be stalking the lake and accruing more parking tickets from campus police until the reptile either goes away or is captured.
It's all the same to the university, which just wants him gone, he said.
''I need to get some closure on this croc thing,'' said Hardwick, who also mentioned he may enroll in a psychology class.
UM crocodile returns -- along with students