A predatory reptile that preys on small alligators, climbs trees, swims in salt water and has been compared to velociraptors is quietly taking root in four South Florida counties.
Nile monitor lizards are large, aggressive and have bred in the wild. Wildlife officials want residents to pay attention.
Unlike the green iguanas that are common in the area, Nile monitor lizards are aggressive predators. They feed on turtles, snakes, young alligators and other reptiles, birds and their eggs, and small mammals.
If it’s small enough to catch, they’ll eat it.
The lizards were first introduced to Florida about 40 years ago and were added to the state’s prohibited species list in 2021, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.Fuhua).
The four-year head start gives the species plenty of time to take root.
The FWC currently considers the Nile monitor lizard a non-native species requiring removal priority and is monitoring breeding populations in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Lee counties. abc news.
Why wildlife officials are worried
South Florida already battles invasive Burmese pythons, iguanas and other non-native species that are damaging local ecosystems.
The Nile monitor adds a different kind of pressure: a fast, adaptable predator that thrives in moist environments, traveling on land, in fresh and salt water, and reproducing at very high rates.
Frank MazzottiA professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Florida told ABC News that waiting for evidence of damage is the wrong approach.
“You can’t wait until invasive species demonstrate their impact on the ecosystem,” Mazzotti said. “Because if you do, it’ll be too late.”
The difficulty of capturing these animals adds to the urgency. snake hunter Mike KimmelPeople who have personal experience fighting with them speak out.
“Use traps and use dogs to catch them – I’ve interacted with them before and they… are like catching tornadoes,” Kimmel Tell Local10. “Swimming, burrowing, climbing trees, they were like modern-day velociraptors.”
Compare trajectories. The Nile monitor has sharp claws and a long, muscular tail. It is not afraid of biting or scratching humans and can use almost any terrain to escape.
What does the Nile Monitor look like?
For anyone who spends time outdoors in South Florida, the identifying characteristics are different:
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The body is olive green or black, with yellow stripes on the head and chin
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Can grow up to 7 feet long and weigh up to 20 pounds
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Sharp claws, long forked tongue, and long, muscular tail
Their size alone sets them apart from most native lizards. A 7-foot lizard with a yellow stripe on its chin is hard to mistake for any other lizard once you know what you’re looking at.
Nile monitor lizard crawls in dry grass.
As for how they got to Florida, the exotic pet trade is largely responsible. Mazzotti’s assessment of Nile monitor lizards as pets is straightforward.
“They’re very wild, very active,” Mazzotti said. “They’re not good pets at all. They can’t be calmed down.”
He added: “They are crazy. They are difficult to deal with and you have to be very careful not to let them escape and not to get bitten.”
Difficult to handle, easy to escape, and well-adapted to South Florida’s warm, humid climate—a combination that helps explain how a species from another continent could establish itself here.
Nile monitors are not native to Florida and are not protected in the state under anti-cruelty laws. Fuhua.
What should you do if you find out
According to the FWC, Florida law allows anyone to capture and humanely kill Nile monitor lizards year-round without a license or hunting permit, including on private property with permission from the landowner because of their impact on local wildlife.
Reporting sightings to FWC also helps officials track the spread of the population.
The agency is actively working to remove the animals, but the lizards’ speed, climbing ability, burrowing behavior and comfort in the water make containment a serious challenge.
Breeding populations have been documented in four counties. Their high reproductive rates and adaptability to a variety of environments mean their range is likely to continue to expand unless removal efforts can outpace spread.
The production of this article included the use of artificial intelligence. It is reviewed and edited by a team of content experts.
