Croc eludes search in Hamilton pond

A reptile expert has failed to catch a crocodile-like creature seen swimming in a small pond near Hamilton this week.

Bry Loyst, curator of the Indian River Reptile Zoo located just east of Peterborough, Ont., searched the pond with three other zoo employees on Tuesday, without success. A zoo employee who spoke to CBC News on Wednesday said he did not know if, or when, the search would resume.

The creature, presumed to be an abandoned or escaped pet that's managed to somehow survive in colder waters, was first spotted and photographed by a local birdwatcher.

Photos by Tom Badeau published in a local newspaper clearly show a crocodile-like snout rising from the surface of a pond near Lake Ontario.

Lisa Jennings of the Hamilton Conservation Authority said she has seen the creature, which she calls it a "crocodilian," a catch-all term because it could be one of about two dozen different species of alligators and crocodiles. It could also be up to two metres long.

"We saw the top of the head when it came up on the surface of the water," said Jennings. "We saw the mouth and snout and the eyes."

"I was kind of shocked that it was here," said Jennings. "That it was confirmed that there was an actual sighting of a crocodilian species, and concerned for the well-being of the animal."

'Not their native habitat'

Shari Faulkenham, also of the Hamilton Conservation Authority, said the creature is tough to spot.

"I can't get a good look on him — he surfaces, then goes back under pretty quickly," she said. "I just saw him pop his head up over here. This is not their native habitat. Despite it feeling very warm to us, this is actually very cold for a crocodilian species."

"It looks like we're seeing some snapping turtles poking their head up," said Faulkenham. "But there's one individual out there that … he doesn't quite look like a snapping turtle."

Both conservation officers said they are concerned about public safety. If the creature survives and the weather stays warm, it could decide to travel.