FEARS are mounting a crocodile could be stalking popular swimming holes on the Mulgrave River after a report slide marks had been gouged into a bank near Gordonvale, south of Cairns.

An Environmental Protection Agency investigation into the slide marks at Ross and Locke near Goldsborough Valley comes less than a fortnight after a suspected sighting of a saltie at Green Patch.

The activity has prompted the EPA and Cairns Regional Council to warn swimmers to take extreme care and remain "croc-wise in croc country".

Cr Paul Gregory said yesterday there had been anecdotal sightings of crocs on the Mulgrave River all the way up to the Gillies Highway.

"There is no reason why there would not be crocs in the Mulgrave," he said.

"I’ve seen them in the Russell River and the Russell and the Mulgrave join, so if they are in the Russell, they could be in the Mulgrave."

An EPA spokeswoman said the slide marks found in the sand at Ross and Locke could not be positively confirmed as a crocodile slide.

"Despite this, rangers will conduct a follow up spotlight survey of the area to check for the presence of crocodiles," she said.

And Mornington Island police are monitoring the island’s water supply after the sighting of two crocs in the reservoir in mid-February.

The island, which is not a traditional crocodile hot spot, has been plagued with problem salties this year. The EPA was called to the community in January after a spate of dog snatchings with a croc picking off animals swimming between the islands.

One 2.2m female was recently culled and a 4m beast was trapped and taken to the mainland.

An EPA spokeswoman said Mornington Island Police had erected recent sightings signs in the area.

"Local residents are aware of a long-term resident crocodile in the reservoir and know not to swim or access the water in the reservoir," she said.

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