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Thursday, December 08, 2005 Wild things
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 Uncaptioned photo of a monitor lizard. |
Which would you rather face: one of those little brown lizards seen everywhere in Volusia and Flagler counties or one of the big, potentially bad-tempered monitor lizards recently found in Deltona?
You’d probably opt for the small brown anoles. In reality, the little guys probably wreak more havoc in Florida’s native ecosystems. Rough-skinned brown anoles, first brought to this state as hitchhikers on vehicles and potted plants, have all but eclipsed the slim, smooth green anoles in most parts of Florida — though the greens were here first and abundant less than 30 years ago.
But neither anole really belongs here. Nor do the monitor lizards, iguanas and geckoes sold in pet shops and too often, released into the wild. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission lists 278 non-native birds, reptiles, mammals or amphibians found in the Sunshine State, 44 of which have since disappeared. Of those, 68 species are reported to be established and breeding for more than 10 years. The species list reads like an exotic-pet store inventory: Monkeys, parakeets, ocelots, parrots, big snakes.
The invasion of exotic species sometimes results in immediate confrontation — like with the big Nile monitor discovered last week in a Deltona lake. Or it can engender ire as with the ugly, smelly Muscovy ducks. But too often, damage caused by non-natives goes unnoticed until it’s too late. Case in point: The obnoxious channeled apple snail, imported to clean aquariums, now scouring Florida water bodies of native vegetation.
Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Herky Huffman says the state needs to look at solutions — including a possible ban on the sale or importation of exotic animals into Florida. “This is a huge industry and we can’t just be arbitrary and capricious,” he says. But a ban makes sense. The number of animals escaping or being released into the wild is too significant to ignore.
The state could look at interim steps. For starters, there’s currently no requirement for local animal-control officials to report sightings or captures of exotic species to the state. Because of that, it’s difficult to know how many monitor lizards are roaming Deltona.
Reporting requirements could be quickly implemented, with online forms to make it easy for locals.
The next step could be owner licensing for all non-native species, excluding obvious pets such as dogs, cats, tame birds and common rodent pets such as hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs (none are native to Florida). The state already requires licenses to handle animals like big cats and venomous snakes. Expanding licensure — and requiring training — would instruct owners about the need to be careful with exotic pets.
In the long run, however, a straight-out ban on potentially invasive exotics is likely to be most effective. Several local jurisdictions have already banned some exotic pets, and humane societies are advocating for bans in several states. Maryland debated such a bill last month. Kentucky was one of the first states to enact a ban, and its comprehensive language could serve as a model for Florida.
Bottom line: Exotic species do too much damage — crowding out native species, chomping on vegetation, and threatening humans — for the state to ignore them. A ban is the best option for controlling future damage..
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