Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Scott W

NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
21 February 2006

LOSE THE LIZARDS IN LEE COUNTY

The City of Cape Coral has a population of the Nile Monitor Lizard (Varanus
niloticus) perhaps numbering in the thousands. The City has been logging
sightings and attempting to eradicate the monitor lizard since 2001. The
trapping effort has included city employees, grant-funded individuals,
college
interns and volunteers. So far, we have
captured 120 monitor lizards.

In recent months, monitor lizards have been sighted on Sanibel Island, Fort
Myers
and in the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Buffer Preserve. They are probably
established on Pine Island. The fears that these exotic lizards would spread
to
the barrier islands are most likely founded. With the realization that the
City's
current efforts are not adequate to reduce the population of the monitor
lizard,
we are enlisting the aid of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Wildlife
Services. They
have been the lead agency dealing with the Brown Tree Snake, African Pouch
Rat,
and feral hogs among others. They are familiar with the monitor lizard
problem
and are interested in assessing what is needed to control their population.
They
are attempting to gauge the amount of local support for an
eradication/management effort. They are also interested in meeting with
anyone
concerned with the spread of the nile monitor in SW Florida.

I am contacting you for support in eradicating the monitor lizard in Lee
County,
Florida.

The USDA needs to hear from concerned individuals now. The amount of federal
funding for this will depend on the amount of public support for its
necessity.
Please pass this information along to anyone that is concerned with the
spread
of the monitor lizard in SW Florida. A call, letter, fax or email stating
your
support of eradication of the monitor lizard would be helpful. Please send
to:

Bernice Constantin
Florida and Puerto Rico Wildlife Services State Director
2820 East University Avenue
Gainesville, Florida 32641
Phone: (352) 377-5556
Fax: (352) 377-5559
Toll-Free: 1-866-487-3297
bernice.u.constantin@aphis.usda.gov

Thank you for your efforts in preserving Florida's natural resources.

Kraig Hankins
Environmental Biologist, City of Cape Coral
(239) 574-0746
khankins@capecoral.net
_________________

Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

Peter Parrot · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:50 pm Post subject:

Hi Scott, yes I was watching Animal planet again the other day and one woman had Niles, Golden Tegus AND Burmese Pythons in her yard/shed.

That`s just one person`s backyard. With such large predatory invaders around in such numbers, the native stuff must be having a tough time by now. Are there any figures/estimates for Foreign species increase and native species decrease available in Florida do we know? Suffice to say that it`s in a bit of a mess.
_________________
YSBRYDOLI POBL, GWELLA LLEOEDD
INSPIRING PEOPLE, IMPROVING PLACES
www.btcv.org
Visit our website - Gwelwch ein Gwefan
www.btcvcymru.org
Llinell Gymorth / Helpline: 08702 40 48 41

JStroud · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:12 pm Post subject:

...and its not just the larger predators having a huge impact, Cuban Tree Frogs are destroying native tree frog populations and Cuban Anoles are out competing green and brown anoles by far. Theres even talk that these species, including those you listed, will be included in the next Herpetological Guide to Florida due to the apparrent successful populations.
_________________
Regards James Stroud

Peter Parrot · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:34 pm Post subject:

That`s what it`s come to already. Such a shame for the native species
_________________
YSBRYDOLI POBL, GWELLA LLEOEDD
INSPIRING PEOPLE, IMPROVING PLACES
www.btcv.org
Visit our website - Gwelwch ein Gwefan
www.btcvcymru.org
Llinell Gymorth / Helpline: 08702 40 48 41