Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) biologists are trying out a technique they picked up from Mexico--magnets to disorient crocodiles. The way it works, nuisance crocodile trappers have been instructed to attach magnets to both sides of the crocodile's head at the capture site. The magnetic fields are intended to disorient the crocodile's navigational functions, enough so that they can't find their way back to the capture site. The magnets are removed from the crocodile's head upon release. Capturers will also attach a colored tag to the crocodile's tail, so returning crocodiles can be identified later.

Interaction between crocodiles and humans has increased as the crocodile population continues to recover, and as people continue to sprawl into traditional crocodile habitat. One technique to resolve these conflicts is translocation.

"Scientists in Mexico have reported success in using magnets to break the homing cycle," said Lindsey Hord, FWC crocodile response coordinator. "The results of the study are promising. If it proves successful here, we could gain an effective technique to resolve crocodile-human conflicts."