The recent storms linked to Hurricane Beryl that drenched the northern Mexican border cities across from Texas sparked a crocodile invasion.
Authorities have so far captured and relocated more than 200 reptiles that were wandering across urban areas after heavy rains last week, according to Attorney General's Office for Environmental Protection.
The torrential rains caused water levels to rise in coastal lagoons, allowing the reptiles to crawl into Tamaulipas and the nearby cities of Ciudad Madero and Altamira.
Data released by the federal agency on Tuesday showed that following Tropical Storm Alberto during the first week of July and Beryl, inspectors, firemen and Civil Defense agents captured 135 crocodiles in Ciudad Madero and Tampico and an additional 30 in Altamira. At least 40 were capture in the area in June.
All of the animals have since relocated to their natural habitats, away from residential neighborhoods.
A crocodile was recently spotted crawling across a road in Tampico, a city in the northern Mexico border state of Tamaulipas. Heavy rains tied to Hurricane Beryl last week and Tropical Storm Alberto in June have displaced the reptiles from their natural habitats. Federal authorities have so far captured and relocated at least 205 crocodiles
Karina Lizeth Saldívar, who oversees Tamaulipas state Urban Development and Environment Ministry, stressed the importance of controlling the crocodile population while adhering to environmental protocols while disregarding public safety.
A lot of the lagoons are connected to drainage systems, which has displaced animals into public streets, where they search for food.
Video footage of the showed traffic coming to a standstill after a crocodile was spotted crossing the road and stopping in front of a fence next to a sidewalk before it was captured and removed.
Last week, two children went viral after they were each seen carrying two crocodiles bounded with ropes in a Ciudad Madero neighborhood.
Mexican authorities said that crocodiles have made their way to urban areas since most of the lagoons in the northern border state of Tamaulipas are connected to drainage systems
Two young boys were brave enough to carry a pair of crocodiles that were captured in the Tamaulipas city of Ciudad Madero
Crocodiles are a protected species in Mexico. While attacks are rare, some have been reported
According to Mexico's Attorney General's Office for Environmental Protection, 135 crocodiles in the Tamaulipas cities of Ciudad Madero and Tampico and an additional 30 in Altamira. At least 40 were capture in the area in June
Environmental agents captured a giant crocodile recently in the Tamaulipas municipality of Tampico
The Attorney General's Office for Environmental Protection fears 'as the water levels go down in places like streets and drainage canals that were flooded, crocodiles will turn up and sightings will certainly increase.'
Crocodiles are a protected species in Mexico. Attacks by them in Mexico are rare but have occurred.
In August 2022, a giant crocodile was spotted dragging the body of a lifeless man in the Tampico town of Laguna del Carpintero after he ignored signs prohibiting swimming at a lagoon.
In June 2022, a man under the influence of alcohol was nearly dragged into a lagoon by a crocodile after he was seen attacking the reptile's egg nest.
