Family Discovers Giant Saltwater Crocodile Lounging In Backyard

An Australian family who recently moved into their new home got a surprised visitor when they discovered a huge saltwater crocodile wandering in their backyard. Kerry Lucht discovered the reptile crawling in her backyard in Euramo, North Queensland early one morning.

"I ran into my husband screaming, 'There was a crocodile in the backyard' and he said, 'You've finally lost the plot,'" Kerry told ABC News.

The crocodile is believed to be eight-foot-long and had crawled into the property through from a river that flows 30 meters away from the yard. Upon investigation, the couple discovered that they had left their backyard door open. "I guess it was a very polite crocodile and came through the gate and thought I'll come for a cuppa," she said to the outlet.

Cory Lucht jumped into action and attempted to get the crocodile to leave their backyard by blocking its path between the fence and the house using a four-wheeler.

"We tried to shoo him out but that didn't work, saying things like 'Come here croc croc'," Kerry said to the outlet. "Then my husband made the decision to cut down the fence, which I was 100 percent happy with. "
The crocodile, however, was not; it hissed and snapped at Cory but eventually wandered back down the river.

Later, Kerry said she and her husband sat down with their son, who witnessed the whole incident, and explained to him the dangers of wild animals. "He said, 'Mum, that's a dinosaur' and I explained it was, but not the kind he thinks. He then asked if it was our new pet and I said 'no', although I did nickname him Fluffy," Kerry said.

Following the crocodile incident, the Lucht family called the Department of Environment And Science.

"I rang the DES and they said we need to make sure we keep the grass down because crocodiles like to hide in long grass. They said it's also quite possible the crocodile will come back," Kerry Lucht said to the outlet.

Kerry said she has farm animals in her backyard, which might have attracted the crocodile in the first place.