A crocodile that was climbing onto the back of boats has been trapped by wildlife officers and Indigenous rangers in the Kimberley town of Wyndham.

The 3.8-metre reptile was caught in a trap set by the Balanggarra rangers and Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPAW) staff.

"It was trailing boats, climbing onto the back of boats and also onto the floating pontoon jetty," DPAW district manager Luke Bentley said.

Mr Bentley said the crocodile had grown accustomed to getting an easy meal at the adjacent boat ramp.

"We've actually seen an increase in people filleting their fish at the boat ramp and then disposing of their fish frames into the water," he said.

"This animal was large and it was posing a risk to human safety.

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"Particularly where you have kids fishing off the jetty itself, it was a real risk to the community."

Mr Bentley said the department had been advised the crocodile was caught in the trap at the weekend.

After waiting a few days to allow any food it had consumed to be digested, rangers were able to remove it.

The crocodile is being driven across the Kimberley to a Broome wildlife park, where it will be kept in captivity.

"There is a cost, but where you've got a large animal that can be used by the farm as part of their breeding program, and part of the education process for people coming to the Kimberley to learn about crocodiles, then we're happy to make that investment," Mr Bentley said.

Mr Bentley acknowledged it was impossible to make Wyndham crocodile-free, but the department would work with the community to avoid creating more problem crocodiles.

"The crocodiles will always be there, but what we don't want them to be is really confident around people and coming up to boats looking for a meal," he said.

"Parks and Wildlife urges people to always exercise caution around waterways in the Kimberley."

DPAW staff and Indigenous Yawuru rangers carried out a similar exercise recently in Broome, trapping a 3.65-metre crocodile that had been approaching boats.