 It is administered as part of the National Key Deer Refuge which is also located in the Florida Keys.Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge was once entirely platted for residential development; however, accumulated deposits of dredge-spoils on the bayside of North Key Largo became an important nesting area for some of the country's remaining American crocodiles which have recovered in recent years from a low, in 1975, of approximately 200 in population size.The American crocodile had nearly been extirpated by hunting for export of its hide as an exotic leather.