6-Foot Lizards Invading Military Runway in Florida

nationalgeographic ^ | May 19, 2009 | Maryann Mott

[JoeProBono]

Homestead Air Reserve Base near Miami, Florida, is dealing with a different sort of small ground invasion: the Nile monitor lizard.

These invasive reptiles—possibly former family pets or escapees from nearby breeding facilities—occasionally lumber onto the base's tarmac to soak up the sun's rays.

"When you have an airplane coming in to land or take off, and you have a 6-foot [1.8-meter] reptile laying on the runway, it causes a substantial human health and safety problem," said Parker Hall, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services.

Agency employees patrol the runways on a regular basis to shoo away birds, capture lizards, and deal with any other pests that may show up.

But that's a tall order given the base's close proximity to both the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, both home to diverse arrays of wildlife that regularly spill into the base's vast woodlands and wetlands.

Lizard Explosion

Invasive lizards in southern Florida—such as the monitor, native to Africa—now outnumber native species, experts say.

These hefty predators—weighing up to 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms)—have a voracious appetite, and have been observed eating protected species such as the burrowing owl.

In nearly two decades monitor lizards have been spotted in seven Floridian counties, with the biggest breeding population living in Cape Coral, a city on the state's west coast.

[JoeProBono]

Invasive Nile monitor lizards (above, one of the lizards caught in Cape Coral, Florida) are sunning themselves on a military base's runway, posing a danger to planes and human health, wildlife officials say.

________________________________

FILE PHOTO

The Nile Monitor Lizard (Varanus niloticus) grows to over 6 ft in length. It is dark brown with yellow spots forming bands around the body of the lizard.

It is found near fresh water and its burrows. It can dive under water for up to one hour .It is very agile both on land and in the water. This carnivorous reptile is not native to Florida and poses a danger to Florida’s wildlife.

[Islander7]

There’s simple solution. Tell Cajuns they are good to eat and out of season. Problem solved.

[armymarinemom]

Canopymeg.com sure is running slow.

[Squawk 8888]

Could be worse. There are many airfields in North America that are frequented by moose and caribou.

[absolootezer0]

yeah, but how does it taste?

[Concho]

it is a huge file that has to be resized...........

[absolootezer0]

yeah, but how does it taste?

[EternalVigilance]

Kill ‘em. Problem solved.

[MediaMole]

There’s only one answer to that question... It tastes like chicken.

[angcat]

NO

They are so cute, you are mean!

[ScottinVA]

Note to First Lady Obama. Please stay off the runway until asked to slither... er come aboard!

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

I know someone who has one for a pet.

[RepublitarianRoger2]

When I see these stories about invasive non-native species, I always wonder how something like a 6-foot lizard makes its way over here from Africa (”lizards on a plane?”) and into Florida’s swamps without being detected somewhere along the way.

[absolootezer0]

why does everything have to taste like “chicken”?

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

They are great pets as long as you get them young and get them used to being handled.

[JoeProBono]

[Armedanddangerous]

Doesnt anyone in florida have a 22 rifle?

[LonePalm]

Better than Iguana.

'La bonne cuisine est la base du véritable bonheur.' - Auguste Escoffier
(Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness.)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[bgill]

Have they voted yet?

[JoeProBono]