Locals in far north Queensland towns hit by floodwaters are avoiding crossing their own deluged streets, with swollen rivers bringing crocodiles swimming into residential areas.
The state's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is warning residents in flooded areas to be wary of the carnivorous reptiles, with the number of croc sightings expected to increase at this time of year anyway with both the nesting season and the wet season in full swing.
"I wouldn't go crossing the street," a worker at Ingham's Victoria Hotel told ninemsn.
Ingham, between Cairns and Townsville, has seen at least 20 inundated homes evacuated as the Herbert River peaked at 12.2m.
"I haven't seen any crocs here but with the broken river banks there's water through the whole town and it's quite possible that crocs are in those waterways now, so I wouldn't go paddling about," the hotel worker said.
Large numbers of crocs have reportedly been seen swimming towards the 60km-wide mouth of the flooded Norman River, in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Staff at Normanton's Albion Hotel have reportedly spotted a large croc stalking residents in the town's main street.
A Carpentaria Shire Council officer told ninemsn that a 3m beast keeps "hanging around town".
"We've had some problems trying to keep kids out of the water," Scott Middleton, a technical officer at the council, said.
"He floats around the back of the Albion Hotel and the back of the local library."
In Townsville a motorist ran over a 1.6m crocodile yesterday morning while driving down a flooded Ross River Road. The reptile is being cared for by wildlife authorities.
On Magnetic Island, off Townsville, a 4m croc was reported entering the water near the mouth of a creek.
EPA authorities say crocs might move about flooded residential roads in search of a new habitat for food or just a quiet place to wait until floodwaters recede.
The EPA urges the public not to approach any crocodiles.
The public can report sightings to the EPA hotline on 1300 130 372.
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