(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/ap/puerto%20rico%20catching%20caimans-1546981668_v2.380;380;7;70;0.jpg)Ricardo Arduengo / APIn this Dec. 5, 2012 photo, a caiman is held by its neck with a pole in a holding tank at the home of Daniel Montanez in the Los Naranjos neighborhood of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. Caimans are native to Central and South America, but were introduced to Puerto Rico by stores such as Woolworth's that sold baby caimans the size of lizards as pets during the 1960s and 70s, Atienza said. When the caimans began to grow, people released them into the wild, where females rapidly reproduced, laying up to 40 eggs at a time. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo)(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/ap/puerto%20rico%20catching%20caimans--1960253566_v2.photoblog600.jpg)Ricardo Arduengo / APA caiman is held with a pole in a holding tank at the home of Daniel Montanez in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, on Wednesday. By Danica Coto, The Associated PressVEGA BAJA, Puerto Rico -- When heavy rains begin to pelt a flood-prone neighborhood along Puerto Rico's north coast, people start sharpening their knives and preparing their lassoes.
The floods herald the arrival of caimans, a close relative of the alligator, whose population has exploded in and around the lagoon next to Los Naranjos neighborhood in the coastal city of Vega Baja.
The scaly reptiles have been spotted prowling around schools and crawling into flooded yards after rains, causing both widespread panic and curiosity in the community.
Calls to government officials to help catch the reptiles and take measures to prevent further flooding have been futile. So now, the residents of Los Naranjos have been forced to face their fears and become caiman catchers themselves in this community of scarce resources where some still ride horses bareback as transportation. Among the rudimentary equipment at their disposal: Wire, duct tape and metal poles.
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