Australian Family Discovers 3-Foot Crocodile in Their Chicken Coop
An Australian family got the shock of their lives when they discovered a 3-foot crocodile in their chicken coop. Initially mistaking it for a goanna, the family called wildlife officers from Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) for assistance. The incident took place at a home in Cape Hillsborough, north of Mackay.
DESI staff arrived at the scene after the residents found the small estuarine crocodile in their yard. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was indeed a crocodile, not a goanna. Fortunately, the family’s pets and chickens were unharmed.
To transport the crocodile safely, DESI staff placed it in a large PVC tube and took it to Mackay. The crocodile will be kept at a department center until wildlife officers can find a suitable new home for it at a licensed farm or zoo.
Senior wildlife officer Jane Burns explained that crocodiles can be highly mobile, especially during summer and after wet weather. While it is not uncommon to see crocodiles around Mackay, finding one in someone’s backyard is unusual. This incident serves as a reminder to residents in croc country that these creatures can turn up in unexpected places.
This discovery comes just days after reports of a large crocodile leaping into a fisherman’s boat at Jane Creek near St Helen’s Beach. The incident was reported on New Year’s Eve, and wildlife officers have since made contact with the fisherman. According to his account, the crocodile swam under the boat and then launched itself into the vessel with its jaws wide open. The fisherman managed to jump over the crocodile to retrieve the anchor, causing the crocodile to fall into the water and damage the boat’s rails.
The fisherman stated that he had never seen such behavior from a large crocodile in the region before. The incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers posed by these creatures in the area.
