MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – Commuters on U.S. 1 faced a prehistoric sight Thursday morning when authorities converged to remove a massive, nine-foot dead crocodile from the shoulder of the highway. The carcass was discovered near U.S. Naval Air Station Key West, sprawled along the primary artery that connects the Florida Keys.
Sheriff Rick Ramsay was on the scene to oversee the operation, joining a multi-agency response that included the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the Key West Police Department, and officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The crocodile, a formidable specimen for the area, appeared to have been killed after being struck by a vehicle sometime during the night or early morning hours.
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While it is not uncommon to see wildlife in the region, the sheer size of the reptile required a coordinated effort to clear the roadway and ensure the safety of passing motorists, deputies say.
FWC officials handled the recovery of the animal to further examine the remains.
No injuries to drivers were reported in connection with the collision, and the vehicle involved in the initial strike was not identified at the scene. Traffic returned to its normal flow shortly after the multi-agency team hauled the animal away.
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