Monitor Lizards in So. Fla

What people don't tend to realize is that these are not new issues. The burmese python has only been known to be breeding in South Florida for less than 10 years but they first started finding them in the 80s. The nile monitors have been known to be breeding for more than 10 years now and they first started finding them in 1990. Heck, we have established populations of not one species of monkey but three that have been known since the 1930s for one species and each have been known to be breeding for more than 10 years. Its definitely a problem and the issue is not helped by careless owners who continue to release their pets, but it is far from a new problem.

Chris
 
This was the first I had heard of the Monitors. I was just very surprised that it is right down the street from where I live. I am sure you know about the Iguana problem we have down here, which once again started from careless people releasing them into the wild.
 
I seen there are Tegus there too. :c It's sad when an incompitent owner goes to those extremes of dumping them off in the Everglades.. What's so hard of bringing them to a shelter/rescue?
 
Chris Anderson said:
What people don't tend to realize is that these are not new issues. The burmese python has only been known to be breeding in South Florida for less than 10 years but they first started finding them in the 80s. The nile monitors have been known to be breeding for more than 10 years now and they first started finding them in 1990. Heck, we have established populations of not one species of monkey but three that have been known since the 1930s for one species and each have been known to be breeding for more than 10 years. Its definitely a problem and the issue is not helped by careless owners who continue to release their pets, but it is far from a new problem.

Chris
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Okay, monkey's??? Really? Some people are careless.
 
Carol I have to agree with you that it is sad this is happening more and more. I just can't understand anyone dumb enough to allow or set a animal lose. Dog, cat, bird reptile, whatever, there is no excuse for it. If they can't pay to drop it at a shelter then stick it in a box and just leave it.
 
Were the monkeys released accidentally due to Hurricanes or are they pets who had careless owners? Which sp of monkeys are inhabiting Fl?
 
I see why people would release them into the wild. They might think it's just a single animal which wouldn't breed but a group is a problem. The reason people do this is maybe because they really do love their animals a lot but maybe due to financial problems can't keep their animals. Some people can't get it to their hearts to send the animal to a shelter or someone else where it might be treated bad. The people then think an aniaml is better of free in wild nature. They would do best releasing them in their own country in that case. Something like they did with Christian the lion. But how many people would do that? I just don't think it's always a careless owner.
 
Eszzie said:
I see why people would release them into the wild. They might think it's just a single animal which wouldn't breed but a group is a problem. The reason people do this is maybe because they really do love their animals a lot but maybe due to financial problems can't keep their animals. Some people can't get it to their hearts to send the animal to a shelter or someone else where it might be treated bad. The people then think an aniaml is better of free in wild nature. They would do best releasing them in their own country in that case. Something like they did with Christian the lion. But how many people would do that? I just don't think it's always a careless owner.
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you are probably right and maybe I should have worded it a little differently, but you have to think these things out before you do them. That is why we have all these crazy populations of animals who are not natural inhabitants living out in the wild down here.
 
I think this is sad. I also think its miss information on the owners not knowing what they are getting themselves into when they buy it like how big the pythons and boa's get same with monitors and their temperments. they are not asking the questions and alot of pet and reptile stores won't tell if they are not asked as long as they get the sale. so it's both sides faults. my nephew wanted a boa for his 21 first and when he and my sister talked to me i told them they have the ability to get up to 15 feet long. I told them do you have the space to house a snake that big. are you willing to go the long haul with it. i know your saying probably 15 well i know i came across one when i was stationed in honduras. alot is to blame for pets stores if they have to much in stock the will do what they can for a quick sale and when the owners find out they are like to bad the sale is final when ever i decide to get a pet i do as much research as i can on it before i get it. I feel in order to keep this problem in check i feel states like florida should have game reserve or something along the lines so if they can't find a new home or a zoo to give it too then a place where they can be monitered and keep it in check.
 
The problem in florida probably has more to do with all the importers/wholesale commercial operations that are concentrated there and less to do with pet owners.

The pythons for example have been traced back to individuals accidentally released when hurricane Andrew smashed through a wholesale facility. Genetically the pythons found in Florida are not from locales imported since that time. Nor are they "fancy" morphs (albinos, greens, lined, etc etc etc) that most breeders have been producing for the past 20 years and that we would expect to see if they were indeed released pets from many owners and not from a single source.

Exotic stuff pops up wild around wholesale facilities- it's a pretty good bet that the iguana and monitor and tegu and basilisk and chameleons can all be traced back to escapees from these businesses.

I'm sure every once in a while a pet gets released- heck as a kid I had a stupid friend who released hamsters into the woods behind his house when his family got tired of them. But an occasional pet here and there many miles apart are unlikely to establish like the exotic reptiles in florida.

What I wish they would put up all over the news and try and outlaw are housecats. Feral cats are freaking everywhere and are very destructive and nasty and foolish people go out and feed them at dumpsters and parking lots in my part of the country and probably elsewhere. They can survive throughout the US too. Climate is not restricting to them. Nobody tries to ban them or prevent sale across state lines though- I wonder why??? (I don't really wish, although cats aren't my thing- I'm being sarcastic to make a point about the size of the exotic reptile problem vs the feral housecat problem and pointing out which gets the laws and the news features and sensational comments in magazines, etc)
 
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I still think its totally unfair as a responsible dog owner. Im required to keep my pet leashed when in public. Yet a housecat can urinate in my flower beds and crap on my deck by my pool. Hop up on my car and scratch my paint and the owners arent punished by the law. If my dog did half that stuff I'd be small claims court every week. Sorry to Op to get off topic....
 
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