Mother-daughter spot giant lizard that eats dogs and cats in Florida

Mother-daughter spot giant lizard that eats dogs and cats in Florida

A mother and daughter were in for a shock while driving in Florida. There, they encountered a nearly six-foot-long Asian monitor lizard on the side of the road. Renee Aland and Zoey Marzonie spotted the gator-like creature on Hillsborough Boulevard near Bamboo Drive.

“My mom was like, ‘I’m going to turn around,'” Marzonie recounted. Initially mistaking the reptile for an alligator, they soon realized it was a large lizard. “I looked and saw his tongue, lizard tongue coming out, and I was like, ‘Oh crap, that’s not a gator,'” Aland laughingly told NBC2.

After sending videos of the creature to the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC), it was confirmed to be a non-native Asian water monitor lizard. It’s estimated to be five feet long. The FWC considers monitor lizards a high-priority species within their Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Program.

These lizards are known to prey on a variety of animals. Among them are crabs, frogs, and even pet cats and dogs. As a result, they pose a significant threat to local wildlife and livestock. So, the FWC encourages people to report sightings of such non-native species to their Invasive Species Hotline at 888-IVE-GOT1 (483-4681), via the IVEGOT1 app, or online at IveGot1.org.

South Florida’s extensive canal system has allowed the dispersal of these species. Thus, they are believed to originate from intentional and unintentional releases of captive animals. The Nile monitor’s high reproduction rate, diverse diet, and ability to travel in both fresh and saltwater make them particularly invasive. As a result, they are a threat to many animals.

Source: Dailymail

Mother-daughter spot giant lizard that eats dogs and cats in Florida