Large Monitor Lizard Terrorizes Fla. Neighborhood
A neighborhood in Casselberry, Fla., is on edge after several families spotted and photographed a large monitor lizard prowling in their yards.
A homeowner recently noticed the nearly 5-foot lizard roaming in their community and snapped photos of it as it walked near a retention pond.
"He looks like a dinosaur head," a neighbor said. "I first saw him behind my neighbor's fence."
"It is not something that should be around here and it could be harmful to the kids," another neighbor said.
A trapper with Critter Control said he has been trying to capture the animal.
"We have been after him for a couple of weeks now," the trapper said.
"Animal trappers believe the monitor stays hidden in the weeds (of a retention pond), probably feasting on turtles and bird eggs, going nowhere near the bait inside the traps and lying low," Local 6's Kimberly Houk said. "(It's) keeping the neighborhood on edge."
Experts said monitor lizards are fierce predators and their bite alone can kill their prey.
They are fast runners, have powerful tails and feed on insects, birds and mammals.
Police said they believe the monitor lizard was probably someone's exotic pet and was released into the retention pond at some point.
