What Invasive Species Can Harm Us In Florida?

Florida is well-known for the many invasive species that have taken over the state. It's hard to drive by one of Broward County's many canals without seeing the green iguanas sunning themselves. While these skittish lizards may have inadvertently become the face of Floridian invasive species, they are far from the only ones. The Sunshine State has had more than 500 invasive species reported, an estimated 80% of which were introduced because of the live animal trade. An FWC report stated that when these species are released into the wild, they quickly reproduce and ultimately outcompete native species for resources, negatively impacting the ecosystem across the board. The problem with the invaders became so prevalent that at the beginning of 2021, the FWC voted against pressure from the public to completely ban iguanas and 15 other species, including several pythons and another lizard species called the tegu.

Only pets that are grandfathered in and whose owners have acquired the now-necessary yearly Prohibited Species permit and the mandated outdoor concrete enclosure are allowed – as long as the permit is renewed yearly and only through the animal's life – and even commercial breeding of iguanas and tegus will be illegal come 2024.

We can't blame nature for this one; it is all on us. Iguanas were once a popular pet in South Florida. They thrived as such due to the weather and the owner's feeding them an improper diet. This caused them to grow, and with no socialization, they became unmanageable and were released or escaped. Once in the wild, the iguana had no natural predator and could reproduce at will. The population is so out of control that the Florida Wildlife Commission has encouraged homeowners to humanely kill ones they find on their property to prevent further damage to the local environment.

While typically not aggressive to humans, they can bite in self-defense and are known carriers of salmonellosis. Their meaty tails also act as a whip and can draw blood from peoples' legs. They often dig lengthy tunnels, which can damage pavement and even the foundations of houses. They have even managed to make their way into our homes through the water system and end up in the toilet.

In the 1960s, Argentine black and white tegus, a dog-sized toothed lizard, was brought from South and Central America to be sold as pets in the United States. Many escaped, and others were released into the wild by owners who had no idea what they were getting themselves into. These events lead to the lizards' exponential growth in South Florida. They eat mostly smaller animals, alligator eggs, and sometimes threatened wildlife, such as hatchling gopher tortoises. At four feet long and meat-eating, they are a threat to our pets. Don't be surprised if one chases you like a person as they can run on their two back legs.

Burmese pythons found throughout the Everglades can grow to over 20 feet long and, hypothetically, can eat a small person. It is believed that the serpents managed to create a reproducing population sometime after Hurricane Andrew. When this storm slammed through South Florida in 1992, a research facility containing countless samples was destroyed, releasing them into the swamp. As a top predator, there was nothing to stop them, not even alligators. Some believe that the python may have even replaced the alligator as the resident apex predator of the Everglades, and several videos are migrating across the internet of pythons eating alligators. There must be something about toilets because a python bit a Coral Springs man after opening the toilet lid.

The problem is so bad that there is a Python Round-up every year, where professionals and amateurs compete to remove the most pythons from the Everglades with a $10,000 prize for the lucky winner. In 2021, a 16-foot snake took the top prize. The largest ever caught in the state was almost 19 ft. 

Another non-native snake that has successfully invaded the state is the African Rock Python. These big boys are the largest snake species native to Africa, averaging twenty feet and exceeding thirty. Both of these snakes are nonvenomous but are considered dangerous due to the combination of their powerful jaws and aggressive behaviors.

For water lovers, keep an eye open when swimming. In the ocean, the lionfish populations have exploded. Many have found their way from fish tanks to the Atlantic. They are voracious feeders, and samples of their stomachs have been dissected and found to have up to six different types of prey at one time. Their toxin is potent enough to make them a danger to humans. For canal swimmers, beware the snakehead. They are about 6lbs and 28 inches of mean and prey on what moves. They made their way here from the southern China area in 2005. While they can't walk on land, they can breathe air. The largest one caught in Florida was in Broward County and weighed in at 14lbs and 37 inches.

More dangerous to our pets than us is the Cuban frog. It invaded a few years ago and has been feasting smaller frogs and small vertebrates. The toxins that emanate from its body deter most predators from bothering them. Pets can get extremely sick if they eat one. 

Invasive or invading, many of these animals are truly threatening to a person's well-being. In Broward County, All Nix Services is here to help. Our experienced professionals are ready to help you make your home critter-free. Contact us today for an estimate.