These are Animals that are currently Feral and self sustained just in My area Lee/Collier Counties:
Burmese Pythons
Green Iguana
Mexican Spiny Tailed Iguana
Nile Monitor
Tokay Gecko
Mediterranean Gecko
House Gecko
Day Gecko (several Spps)
Brown Crested Anole
Puerto Rican Anole
Brown Bark Anole
Cuban Anole
Knights Anole
Jamaican Anole
Cuban Tree Frogs
Thread/Blind Snake
Brown Vine Snake
Copper Head Snake (not Native to South FL)
Green’s Monkeys
Spider Monkeys
Beebe parrots,
Quaker Parakeets
Budgies
Cockatiels
Spectacled Caiman
Brown Basilisk
Striped Basilisk
Oscars
Piranhas
Peacock Bass
Arawanas
Cichlids of all kinds

Others that are commonly found but not known to be a breeding population
Ball Python
Boa Constrictor
Ferrets
And several of the King snakes and Milk snakes

There are rumors that Monocled Cobras are breeding and populated in the Everglades and that rumor was supported by a find of a road killed one back in 1986 by fish and game.
The are lots of reasons given by people why and how, from all the different hurricanes, starting with Donna and Andrew to all the former US 41 road side shows that were popular back in the 60’s, 70’s, and early 80’s. Many claim that when they closed down most of the animals were released into the swamp due to lack of anything better to do with them.
I am sure that a lot of them are releases from bad keepers, escapes and importers “throwing out the bad”. I personally have seen at least 4 different importers/breeders release damaged or sickly animals into the wilds of FL thinking that the animal has a better chance, apparently they did!
It may not be the best thing for the Environment, but it does make for some fun Herping and some really odd calls at work.
-----
Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

[ Show Entire Thread ]