A Collaborative Program to Remove and Assess Populations of Nonnative Spectacled Caiman

The spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) is a smaller relative of the well-known Florida resident, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Caiman are an introduced species in Florida with a native range from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. Following protective legislation to prohibit trade in American alligators in the early 1950s, the number of imported caimans into the United States as pets markedly increased. There are now breeding populations in localized areas of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, due to escapes or deliberate releases. Caiman are established within or adjacent to two important Everglades restoration sites (Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands and C-111N Spreader Canal Project), indicating potential to become a widespread problem in the Everglades. Spectacled caiman occupy the same habitat as our native alligators and crocodiles, competing for food and other resources. They prey upon birds, small mammals, fish, and other reptiles, posing a threat to native wildlife.

The University of Florida collaborates with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and South Florida Water Management District on efforts to contain and reduce core populations, as well as prevent caiman from spreading into new areas. We aim to monitor trends in the caiman population and determine impacts on native wildlife by:

Conducting weekly surveys and removal where caiman populations exist
Rapid response to reported caiman sightings
Performing necropsies and diet analysis
Calculating encounter rates and occupancy for caiman and native crocodilians in response to caiman removal
Improving scientific understanding and public awareness

Publications

Godfrey, S.T., S.A. Balaguera-Reina, E.F. Metzger III, M.R. Rochford, M.A. Squires, E.V. Gati, A. Godahewa, F.J. Mazzotti 2023. What is the potential for extirpating spectacled caiman from Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan projects in South Florida? Management of Biological Invasions 14(3): 403-419.