NEWS-PRESS (Fort Myers, Florida) 16 February 06 Leaders drum up support for destroying lizards (Charles Runnells)
They came to learn about monitor lizards. But by the end of Wednesday's lizard meeting, several Lee County residents had become impromptu political advocates.
City and federal officials urged the 40 or 50 residents to write or e-mail their state and federal leaders. The reason: To drum up support to kill off Cape Coral's destructive monitor lizards.
The Cape has the biggest population of the 4- to 7-foot lizards in the United States, and officials worry it will spread everywhere if the feds don't step in soon.
Federal wildlife officials attended the meeting Wednesday night at City Hall. They're hoping to get federal aid approved to send trappers, biologists and other experts to the Cape later this year.
Cape resident Debbie Parham plans to do what she can to light a fire under her representatives and senators.
Parham, 52, came to the meeting to learn more about the lizards for her class at Tropic Isles Elementary in North Fort Myers. Her gifted second- and third-graders have been discussing the lizards this week, and they're even planning to make paper-mache models of the creatures, the teacher's assistant said.
But Parham said she was also inspired to write a letter.
"It's important," she said. "I was horrified to learn that they've found lizards on Sanibel Island. That's where all the turtle eggs are."
Monitor lizards gobble up just about anything they can, including tree frogs, the occasional burrowing owl, and, yes, eggs — including turtle eggs.
"Anything that lays an egg on the ground or in the ground is at risk," said Todd Campbell, a University of Tampa scientist studying the lizards. "They love eggs."
Scientists worry that the lizards could kill off the area's native wildlife in their quest for food. But if help comes soon enough, the lizard population — estimated to be in the thousands — might be able to be controlled or even eradicated.
The aquatic lizards were first seen in the Cape in 1990. Officials believe the creatures were bought as pets and later dumped in the wild.
Monitors do especially well in the Cape because of its approximate 400 miles of canals. That's basically 800 miles of coastline "habitat," Campbell said.
Michael Orchin, president of the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife, said he may get people to sign an anti-lizard petition at Saturday's annual Burrowing Owl Festival.
"We might get 300 or 400 signatures," Orchin said. He also urged people to get their neighbors to send letters to their federal leaders. "That way, it will have more of an impact."
Bernice Constantin, the Florida director of wildlife services for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said it's likely federal leaders will fund the eradication of monitors and other invasive species such as the Burmese python.
"The invasive species problem in Florida has to be recognized and addressed," he said. "The atmosphere in Washington is very favorable, but they need to hear from the constituents at home."
• For more information on Nile monitor lizards and how to write or contact federal leaders, call Cape biologist Kraig Hankins at 574-0746.
Leaders drum up support for destroying lizards