Heavy rains linked to Hurricane Beatriz and the previous tropical storm Alberto have led to at least 200 crocodiles entering urban areas in Tamaulipas state in northern Mexico, on the other side of Texas, according to state and federal authorities this week. Authorities have so far captured about 200 of the large reptiles and relocated them since Alberto hit the area with rain. Hurricane Beatriz covered the same area before making landfall in South Texas earlier this week.
Officials stated that the heavy rains caused water levels in coastal lakes to rise, prompting the animals to crawl into cities such as Tampico and the nearby cities of Ciudad Madero and Altamira, where at least 165 crocodiles were captured and relocated. Karina Lizeth Saldivar, head of the environmental department in Tamaulipas, said in a statement that "the recent rains led to increased water levels in lake systems, resulting in more sightings of crocodiles."
The federal prosecutor's office for environmental protection reported that about 40 additional crocodiles have been captured in the area and relocated to suitable habitats outside populated areas. The office indicated that the problem may persist, noting that "as water levels recede in places like streets and flooded drainage ditches, crocodiles will appear and sightings will surely increase."
The issue came to light this week when social media users posted videos of several crocodiles stuck in urban areas. The ministry stated that this "sparked a buzz on social media."
