Florida Keys croc speared in head had been shot, too. Zoo Miami treating reptile
A wounded American crocodile found in the Florida Keys with a spear lodged in its head over the weekend has been rescued and is being treated at Zoo Miami.
When veterinarians at the zoo were examining the female reptile, they also found a bullet from a gun lodged between its eyes.
Ron Magill, communications director at the zoo, told the Herald that the reptile was captured in Key Largo Monday night and was at the Miami-Dade facility Tuesday morning.
Zoo veterinarians plan to treat the wound and hopefully get the croc healthy enough so the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission can release it back into the wild, Magill said.
READ MORE: FWC searching for suspect who shot crocodile with a speargun in the Florida Keys
The eight-foot reptile was found Saturday around 11:45 p.m. near mile marker 101 in Key Largo with the spear lodged in the back of its head, the FWC said. FWC officers were at first unsuccessful in trying to capture it, but finally caught the animal Monday.
Zoo Miami staff, under the leadership of Dr. Gwen Myers, successfully removed the spear Tuesday, said Cindy Castelblanco, director of marketing and integrated communications.
That’s when they found the bullet, which caused a wound that is not life-threatening, Castelblanco said. Veterinarians aren’t sure if the croc was shot at the same time it was hit with the spear or if it happened on a separate day, Castelblanco added.
“The crocodile was administered fluids, antibiotics, and pain medication and is currently resting and recovering,” Castelblanco said in an email.
The zoo estimates the croc is between 10 and 11 years old, Castelblanco said. According to the National Park Service, the lifespan of an American crocodile in the wild is between 50 and 70 years old.
The FWC is now trying to find whoever it was that shot the croc and bring that person to justice.
American crocodiles are native to South Florida and are federally protected. It is illegal to kill or harass them. Killing one is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
They nearly went extinct in the late 20th Century due to hunting. Thanks to conservation efforts, their population in Florida went from the hundreds in the 1970s to well over 2,000 reptiles, the FWC estimates.
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Unlike their alligator cousins, which are known to occasionally attack people, American crocodiles tend to be shyer and less aggressive. Attacks on people are very rare, although pets, especially those in homes along canals, have become their prey.
READ MORE: State changes stance on saltwater crocodiles in the Keys
The FWC is asking anyone with photos and videos of the crocodile, or who has information on what happened, to call 888-404-3922. Tips can be anonymous, and the agency is offering a reward up to $1,000 for any information that leads to an arrest.
This story was originally published October 21, 2025 at 9:24 AM with the headline "Florida Keys croc speared in head had been shot, too. Zoo Miami treating reptile."
