Florida’s Going After a New Invasive Nemesis: Cat-Eating Monitor Lizards

[Omaha Steve]

Wildlife officials hope to get rid of the pests before they gain a foothold in Palm Beach County.


(Photo: Jason Edwards/Getty Images)

http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/04/13/nile-lizard-cat-eating-florida-invasive-species

April 13, 2015 By Taylor Hill

Taylor Hill is TakePart's associate environment and wildlife editor.

Between wildlife-eating Burmese pythons, colonies of poisonous lionfish, and drain-clogging hydrilla plants, the negative influence of Florida’s exotic pet and aquarium trade seems to know no bounds.

But officials at Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are hoping this spring is marked by the eradication of one sinister-looking, five-foot-long invasive species—not the establishment of a new one.

Nile monitor lizards, native to Africa, are just starting to gain a foothold in South Florida’s Palm Beach County. Around 50 sightings have been verified, and wildlife officials are increasing patrols in the region this month, betting that as the animals emerge to breed, rangers will be able to spot, catch, and kill them.

Since July 2014, wildlife officials have removed 20 Nile monitors from the area, and there are concerns the animal could be preying on everything from house cats to vulnerable native species, such as the endangered Key Largo wood rat.

FULL story at link.

[shenmue]

1. Don't nom the kittehs!

Not the kittehs!!!!!

[djean111]

2. Apropos of nothing, "Shannon Cake" is a truly wondrous name.

Where I live, under Tampa and Brandon, the most I have to watch out for is cane toads (we freeze 'em) and then the peacocks that roam the neighborhood, along with the sand cranes. There is a bird preserve nearby. Someone nearby had a peacock farm of sorts, went bankrupt or moved or something, and the peacocks are loose and thriving. Pretty damn awesome to open the front door and see sand cranes and peacocks all over the place.

Too far north for monitor lizards. This year, anyway.

[Gothmog]

3. These critters are scary

[freshwest]

5. +1

[Fuddnik]

4. They were all over Cape Coral about 10 years ago.

And they caught a 15 foot crocodile last year, about a mile south of my place in Tarpon Springs

[HockeyMom]

7. Not far from you in Naples

Ugh! I let my cats outside on the lanai, although I don't like to leave them out there without watching them. Just yesterday when we were outside, my cat was trying to climb the screen to get at a foot long green lizard crawling up the outside screen.

Grabbed the cat and ran inside and closed the doors. Did not look like that picture, but still....... Can they bite or scratch through the screens?

Lot of wildlife around. Coyote attacked a dog while being walked on leash by it's owner. Woman went to her condo dumpster and saw a Black Bear eating from it.

Watch out for your pets, AND your kids.

[DeSwiss]

6. Why, oh why can't we ever get an invasive species that eats Republicans!?!?!

- I know. They have no nutritive value, they're mostly transfat, many are poisonous and/or indigestible and they tend to cause nausea and lightheadedness wherever they go.

Maybe an invasive fungus might work......

K&R

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