Be Crocwise top tips

Why it’s important to Be Crocwise

Being Crocwise is the most effective way to reduce your risk of a crocodile interaction, allowing you to safely explore and enjoy Queensland’s natural areas. It means staying aware and choosing safe behaviours around the water in areas where crocodiles live.

Understanding crocodile behaviour

Crocodiles are highly mobile, especially after heavy rain and floods. They can travel hundreds of kilometres in the water and can be found in all types of waterways and the ocean. No waterway within their natural range can be considered crocodile free.

Crocodiles quietly blend into their surroundings, using their natural abilities to remain unnoticed. Crocodiles usually hunt by staying submerged. They stay unseen underwater for hours, patiently waiting for prey.

Crocodiles have extraordinary senses of sight and smell and have special vibration-sensing organs on their skin that alert them to the movements of potential prey. They can stay concealed and attack from any depth of water, including very shallow water.

Being Crocwise starts with three simple steps:

Keep out of the water.
Stay more than 5 metres away from the water’s edge.
Keep a sturdy object between yourself and the water.

Choose Crocwise behaviours to reduce your risk of crocodile attack:

Keep out of the water. A crocodile can approach even if you are in shallow water for a short time.
Stay at least 5m from the water’s edge—crocodiles can reach people and animals at the water’s edge.
If you must approach the water, keep a sturdy object like an esky, a tree stump or large rock between yourself and the water. While it won’t completely stop a crocodile, a sturdy object may slow it down long enough for you to escape.
If you must approach the water, avoid crouching down and never use the same location twice.
Supervise children and keep them away from the water’s edge.
Be extra cautious at night, dusk and dawn. Crocodiles are especially difficult to see at these times.
Be aware that crocodile interactions can occur at any time of the year.
Take leftover food, fish scraps or bait home with you or dispose of them in a bin. These food sources attract crocodiles if left near water, camp sites or boat ramps.
Keep pets on a lead and away from the water’s edge.
Stay away from crocodile traps and crocodile nests as crocodiles may be close by.
Keep your distance from the water around places where there are crocodile tracks and slide marks as crocodiles may be close by.