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.
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"

Hopkins Holesale Herps

Hopfam1@aol.com

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