Giant carnivorous lizards proliferating in Florida

Cape Coral has become a haven for Nile monitor lizards, and their population in the Gulf Coast city has possibly reached the thousands . . .

Nile monitor lizards, which can easily grow to 5 feet . . . can hunt prey in the water, in trees and even underground. "They likely eat anything they can fit in their mouths," said Gregg Klowden, a University of Florida biologist working on the project. "In my opinion, burrowing owls are like popcorn snacks for them". . .

"They certainly wouldn't have any problem with baby alligators," Campbell said, adding: "These things eat oysters, so to crunch a gopher tortoise shell would be nothing. They probably eat armadillos, foxes, ground doves, reptiles, amphibians. There's one story of a lady finding a hatchling monitor eating goldfish out of her pond."

Posted by David on July 19, 2003 2:19 PM