The Florida population of this native species is classified as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. With increasing numbers of crocodiles in areas where people live, Florida is experiencing a growing number of complaints about nuisance crocodiles.

Florida does not have a "crocodile problem" in the sense of a widespread threat to humans, but it does have a growing and healthy population of the American Crocodile. Unlike the ubiquitous American Alligator (numbering over 1.3 million), the American Crocodile is a reclusive, federally threatened species primarily found in the brackish and saltwater coastal areas of South Florida and the Keys. While alligators are found in almost every body of fresh water in the state, crocodiles are limited to the very southern tip. There has only been one documented crocodile attack on a human in Florida’s history (which was non-fatal), as they are far more shy and prone to fleeing from humans than alligators. The "problem" is primarily one of human encroachment; as luxury waterfront developments expand into mangrove habitats, residents are seeing "salties" more frequently in their canals and golf course ponds, leading to increased calls for relocation, though the animals are protected by strict conservation laws.