Don't worry, they haven't eaten anybody yet. Yech!!
Posted on 04/20/2016 7:20:59 PM PDT by MtnClimber
The speckled body of the Nile monitor lizard can reach up to 2 meters in length. At one end is a powerful tail that propels the animal through water and whips attackers with surprising force. At the other is a sinuous head that will devour rodents, birds, fish, crocodile eggs, and pretty much anything else within range of its fearsome, recurved teeth. The monitor isn’t fussy. It’s a formidable animal, and the largest lizard in Africa. It’s also the largest lizard in Florida. No one knows exactly when the monitor arrived in Florida, but it was first spotted in 1990. It was probably introduced as part of the pet trade. It then either escaped or was released by people who realized much too late that maybe a huge, intelligent, active, predatory lizard doesn’t make a great pet. Once the monitors were free, events unfolded predictably. These lizards wander over large areas, grow quickly, breed at an early age, and lay up to 60 eggs in a single clutch—so their numbers quickly grew. They love water, and were drawn to the same waterfront properties that attract Florida home-owners. There are now three permanent breeding populations in the state, the largest of which includes more than 1,000 individuals.
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
With all those critters lumped together, I’m sure it wil all even out.
Wait a minute. This sounds like an opportunity to go on miniature dinosaur Safari.
More like snake.
Lol. I remember that scene.
Also Teagu lizards. Kinda like a a Nile but a little smaller and meaner.
Saw one on my street one day. Dang thing looked like godzilla.
Everytime I buy a new monitor, I check it for lizards.
It’s saying “I am the Lizard King; I can do anything.”
Don't worry, they haven't eaten anybody yet. Yech!!
“Should help with the stray cats problem.”
I would like to put female lion scent on you and take you to the zoo.
“Florida also has problems with feral hogs, constrictor snakes like pythons and boa constrictors, and iguanas.”
Don’t forget Hillary supporters.
"Farm out, Man...
Outta state!
Right Arm!"
And people are freaked out over slow moving, reclusive Burms.
These lizards will hunt you down.
One non-native, invasive species going after another.
The irony is strong with this.
I see what you did there.
I could probably be persuaded to pick up and perhaps snuggle with a Burm.
One of these things?
No way in hell.
LOL!
Not a wild one, anyway.
I know of several people who own them and their lizards follow them around, like dogs, seeking affection.
They’re scary smart animals.
How tame/calm do they get? Like really big snakes or what?
Freegards
Pretty mellow, really.
People even walk them in special harnesses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKQfAjwgU0g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bno-qsnbUA
Can’t their bite be really nasty? I thought I read somewhere that because they eat roadkill and other garbage their mouths carry a cesspool mix of nasty bacteria, making their bites dangerous.
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