Reptile & Amphibian Forums

SUN-HERALD (Charlotte, Florida) 12 September 07 Sanibel to trap exotic lizards and iguanas (Jess Fisher)
The City of Sanibel will begin trapping exotic lizards and iguanas to protect the island’s natural wildlife.
On Friday, the city will mail all residents, property and business owners an educational brochure about it’s lizard management program.
A growing population of invasive Nile Monitor lizards and Green Iguanas are target of the program.
“Both lizards have no natural predators on Sanibel. They are considered a severe risk to the island ecosystem,” said Judy Zimomra, city manager. “The lizards were most likely released by irresponsible pet owners.”
There have been two confirmed sightings of Nile Monitor lizards and hundreds of Green Iguana sightings, Zimomra said.
According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, confirmed sightings of Nile Monitor lizards normally represent 20 percent of the total population.
All sightings will be investigated by a professional trapper, Zimomra said.
Trappers will be identified by a safety green colored shirt with the words “Lizard Control” printed on the front and back of the shirt, as well as magnetic decals on their vehicle.
Traps will placed and checked daily. Verified sightings will be mapped to focus eradication efforts and track population trends.
One Nile Monitor lizard was videotaped by a police officer crossing Periwinkle Way. A car ran over the lizard. It survived and ran off into the brush.
To protect the Island’s wildlife populations from increasing numbers of lizards and iguanas, Sanibel put together a group consisting of professionals from the Fish and Wildlife Service at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and city staff to develop an invasive lizard management program for Sanibel. The group presented its recommendations to City Council for approval Aug. 21.
Sanibel to trap exotic lizards and iguanas

WZVN (Naples, Florida) 11 September 07 Sanibel now working to trap Green Iguanas (Randy Simons)
Sanibel Island: Paradise has been overtaken by lizards. Sanibel leaders took action to catch the ever elusive and destructive Nile monitor lizard. But as this reptile continues to cause complications, another creature is creeping forward.
The lizard patrol is out on Sanibel looking, not only for the Nile lizard, but also for a new problem - Green Iguanas.
While the Green Iguanas are not as dangerous as the Nile lizard, they outnumber the Nile lizards by several hundred.
With two confirmed sightings of the Nile monitor lizard on Sanibel, officials guess there are at least 20 to 30 roaming the island.
"They're very prolific so it's probably higher than a month ago, but we want to stem the tide," said Sanibel City Manager Judie Zimomra.
Tuesday night, Zimomra implemented the action plan to reduce the number of Nile lizards that can potentially cause harm.
"Both to the ecosystem and people as well," said Zimomra.
The first part of the plan sent warnings and education fliers to 10,000 homes and businesses. Even as city leaders attack that, several hundred new problems are sitting high in the trees watching Sanibel resident Ron Taichner walk his dog Mango everyday.
"Down around the bend, I've seen 20. A friend of mine saw 23 one morning," said Taichner.
In less than 10 minutes Tuesday, we saw four of the Green Iguanas in all different sizes.
"I can tell how many they've increased in the last year. If they kept multiplying like that, I see how they can take over everything around here," said Taichner.
To prevent that, the next part of the action plan will take place Friday - setting traps.
"The preferred bait is squid and chicken," said Zimomra.
The Beachview and Gumbo Limbo communities are the target areas for the Green Iguana.
Zimomra says the iguanas can be dangerous because they can transmit salmonella.
Even though the action plan was designed to finally capture the ever elusive Nile lizard, it's the Green Iguana that may be the ultimate target just because of the sheer numbers that sit and watch over the island.
Sanibel now working to trap Green Iguanas