In an unusual turn of events at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida on April 22, a crocodile made an unexpected appearance. This crocodile not only crawled onto the airport runway but also took cover underneath the landing gear of a military aircraft, preventing it from taking off. With the assistance of the animal protection department, the crocodile was later relocated to a nearby area.
MacDill Air Force Base, located in Hillsborough County, is home to the United States Air Force’s 6th Air Refueling Wing and serves as the headquarters for the United States Central Command and the United States Special Operations Command, with various combat support aircraft including the KC-135 aerial refueling tanker.
The base posted on Facebook that the 10-foot crocodile was discovered on that morning, having sneaked onto the airfield and wedged itself underneath a KC-135 tanker aircraft.
Upon receiving the report, personnel from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) were dispatched to handle the situation. The crocodile was subsequently transported to the nearby Hillsborough River.
FWC officials mentioned that crocodiles are more likely to venture into unfamiliar areas in April as they search for mating partners.
The base’s Facebook post stated, “Our new toothy Air Force soldier has been relocated to a more suitable environment outside the base. A special thanks to FWC for their assistance. They believe Elvis drove this crocodile out of the house.”
“Elvis” referred to another large crocodile found on the base previously and known for its notoriety. In 2018, Elvis, measuring 12 feet, was spotted walking on the base’s golf course, resembling a rare dinosaur.
In a separate incident in South Carolina, animal rescuers recently saved a crocodile trapped in a drainage ditch for half a year.
Animal rescue specialist Matt Kraycar from K&K Wildlife Services posted on Facebook that the crocodile had been stuck in the drainage ditch since October of last year and was rescued on April 12.
Kraycar told WTOC TV that crocodiles go into a state of low metabolism during the winter, similar to mammals’ hibernation. As the temperature drops, crocodiles reduce their activity levels and do not need to eat as much as they do in the summer. Additionally, the drainage ditch contained fish and turtles, so the crocodile did not go hungry for six months. Its natural instincts helped it survive.
Despite sustaining minor injuries, Kraycar mentioned that the crocodile is expected to fully recover after being released back into the wild.