What comes to mind when you’re trying to size up things that are nine feet long? Ceilings…the inside of a U-Haul truck…a Christmas tree…an ostrich. All seemingly non-life-threatening things, right? (well, maybe don’t cross that ostrich). But what if we told you to picture a nine-foot-long crocodile and then imagine it swimming at your favorite crystal clear beach in Florida? Scary, right?  Recently, in Pompano Beach, Florida, a nine-foot-long crocodile appeared at a beloved beach, and it was quite the spectacle – especially for the lifeguards finishing up their morning swim!

In sunny Pompano Beach, Florida, a rather unexpected visitor caused quite a stir at a local beach.
Flickr Josh Spade
Early on a Monday morning, as lifeguards were wrapping up their usual morning swim and run routine, a woman on a nearby pier spotted a giant 9-foot crocodile making its way toward one of the lifeguards.
With a sense of urgency, she began frantically shouting to grab the lifeguard's attention, alerting them to the potential danger.
Flickr Derek Keats
Thankfully, her efforts didn't go unnoticed. Other vigilant lifeguards quickly picked up on her distress signals and rushed to warn their colleague. Thanks to their swift response, the lifeguard in question managed to safely exit the water, as did all the other swimmers who were enjoying the beach that day.

Related Stories

The Stunning Landscape In Florida That Appears As Though It Was Ripped From A Claude Monet Painting

The Stunning Landscape In Florida That Appears As Though It Was Ripped From A Claude Monet Painting

 Enjoy A Secluded Stroll On A Little-Known Path Along This Iconic Florida River

Enjoy A Secluded Stroll On A Little-Known Path Along This Iconic Florida River

 This Is Little-Known Lake Is Perfect For Easy Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, And Bird Watching In Florida

This Is Little-Known Lake Is Perfect For Easy Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, And Bird Watching In Florida
To ensure everyone's safety, the lifeguards took the necessary steps of temporarily closing off the beach to swimming.
Flickr Julian Mason
Meanwhile, the 9-foot crocodile sought refuge in the cool shade beneath the pier, where it spent the rest of the day, prompting quite the memorable day at Pompano Beach.
In the aftermath of this unusual encounter, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission swiftly intervened. Their experts discovered that the crocodile had been previously equipped with a GPS tracking device.
Flickr Josh Spade
The crocodile's surprise visit to the beach can be explained by its journey from an inlet. It's truly remarkable how this reptile either swam or perhaps took a land route to arrive at its current spot.

The beach reopened the next day after lifeguards scoured over three miles without a sighting of the crocodile.

Thanks to footage provided by locals to WPLG Local 10, you can see the actual crocodile swimming under the pier:

Do sightings like this scare you? Sound off in the comments section! While there isn’t much in the way of crocodile mace, there are a few things from REI you can take with you when outside to protect yourself from wildlife.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore Florida

Featured Addresses
Pompano Beach, FL, USA