SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. — Concern is mounting in one Brevard beachside community after a dog was spotted in a crocodile’s mouth.

Florida Fish and Wildlife confirms it received a report of a deceased dog in the animal’s mouth after the dog’s owner had reported it missing.

Eric Sedej was taking his boat out Monday on the grand canal when he first spotted a crocodile in the water.

Later, around lunchtime while eating, he saw it swimming by through his window.

“I ran out to get a better look, and that’s when I saw it had something in its mouth, it was just swimming along with, and over towards the neighbor’s dock, where it hung out for a couple hours after that,” Sedej said.

Sadly, it was a small dead pug in the crocodile's mouth.

Later, he found out it was a neighbor’s dog that had gone missing.

FWC was called, and after speaking with the owner, they searched the area, but neither the crocodile nor the dog were found at the time.

FWC reported that crocodile sightings have increased in recent years as the result of their population recovery, along with the growing number of people spending time on or near the waters of south Florida.

And because of their shy and reclusive nature, conflicts between them and people are extremely rare in Florida.

Sedej says he and his neighbors are on alert, but we may never know if this croc actually killed the dog or found it dead in the water.

“Maybe it’s shy and not aggressive, and maybe we don’t need to worry as much as we think we do. Can’t say,” he tells us.

FWC says pets should be kept on a leash and away from the water’s edge.