Latest news with #FWC-managed
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Can I shoot a Burmese python in my yard? What to know about the invasive species
If you see a Burmese python slithering across your Florida driveway, can you shoot it? Turns out, yes. Humanely. Burmese pythons — large, nonvenomous constrictor snakes — are native to South Asia, but since they were introduced to Florida, they have become one of the most destructive invasive species the state has ever seen. Burmese pythons reproduce in great numbers, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and eat anything from eggs to small deer. The pythons can consume meals equivalent to 100% of their body mass and have few natural predators. A 2012 study suggested that in Everglades National Park, pythons were responsible for a decline of 85% to 100% of the population of medium-sized animals such as raccoons and rabbits. Burmese pythons also pose a threat to humans and pets. They were added to Florida's prohibited species list in 2021. Every August, the state encourages hunters to thin the Burmese snake population with a 10-day competition, The Florida Python Challenge, which offers prizes for the most killed and the longest python removed in different categories such as professionals, novices and the military. The big prize is $10,000 for the participant in any category who removes the most pythons. Firearms are not permitted in the Florida Python Challenge because there is no established firearm season at the time. That restriction doesn't apply to your own property, however, provided that firing a firearm on your property (or someone else's, with permission) doesn't violate any local regulations. To keep the population down, Burmese pythons can be captured and humanely killed on private property or on FWC-managed lands all year round, with no bag limit, provided you follow area regulations on firearms. Nonnative reptiles in Florida are not protected, except by anti-cruelty law. "There is an ethical and legal obligation to ensure nonnative reptiles are killed in a humane manner," the FWC said. The agency recommends a two-step process from the American Veterinary Medical Association: Step 1: There must be immediate loss of consciousness. A captive bolt, firearm or air gun must be used to shoot directly to the brain. Step 2: The brain must be destroyed. The python must be unconscious. A small rod, like a screwdriver, spike or pick, must be inserted into the cranial cavity and twisted to ensure the entire brain is destroyed. "The AVMA recommends a firearm with a muzzle energy of 300 FPE for animals weighing up to 400 lbs and 1,000 FPE for animals over 400 lbs," the FWC said. Pythons must be humanely killed onsite at the time of capture. Live transport of pythons is not allowed. The Burmese python is one of the largest snakes in the world, the FWC said. Adults caught in Florida average between 6 and 9 feet, with the largest one measuring an amazing 18 feet long. They are tan, with dark blotches along the back and sides that look like puzzle pieces or giraffe markings. Burmese pythons have a pyramid-shaped head with a dark, arrowhead-shaped wedge extending toward the nose. If you spot a Burmese python, avoid it and report the sighting to the FWC. Take a photo and note your location before reporting one of three ways: Call the exotic Species Hotline at 888-Ive-Got1 (888-483-4681) Use the free IveGot1 mobile app Online at This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Burmese pythons an invasive Florida threat, what to know about killing
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
Tegu lizards are emerging threat along the Treasure Coast and eat native Florida species
St. Lucie County is home to an emerging and breeding population of invasive tegu lizards, but also home to one of the state's most skilled trappers. A staggering 1,533 Argentine black and white tegus have been captured or observed in St. Lucie County, making it a state hotspot for the invasive carnivorous lizard, according to the online invasive species map Ten have been caught or observed in Martin County and only one has been observed in Indian River County. The FWC refers to tegus as an "emerging population" in St. Lucie County, which means the lizards aren't just released pets, but part of a breeding population. St. Lucie's population compared to neighboring counties may be skewed by the talents of one of the state's most skilled trappers, Sid Pennington, a former employee at the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant. Over 18,000 tegus have been removed from the wild in Florida, according to FWC spokesperson Lisa Thompson. The tegu invasion began when people accidentally or intentionally released them, but they are now breeding. The FWC in April 2021 listed tegus as a high-risk species and banned owning or breeding them. University of Florida researchers in 2014 set up cameras and documented two tegus eating two alligator eggs a day, until the entire nest was empty. FWC's recent analysis of gut contents show tegus also eat threatened juvenile gopher tortoises. Like all nonnative reptile species, tegus are not protected in Florida except by anti-cruelty laws and can be humanely killed on private property with the landowner's permission. Tegus can be captured and killed year-round and without a permit or hunting license on 32 FWC-managed lands in South Florida. The FWC is seeking public feedback on proposed rule changes for nonnative species, including tegus. The FWC will host three virtual public meetings this week on pet permits, caging requirements for juvenile tegus and green iguanas and placement options for prohibited species by FWC Law Enforcement. The meetings focused on tegus will be at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. March 27 and 10 a.m. March 29. Information on participating in the meeting can be found at the FWC's nonnative species page. Staff will use feedback to help draft rules, which the FWC Commission will consider at a future meeting. The public also may comment via the FWC online portal or by emailing nonnativespeciesrules@ Over 500 nonnative species have been reported in Florida, of which 80% have been introduced via the live animal trade. About 150 species are established in Florida, meaning they are reproducing in the wild. Call the FWC's exotic species hotline at 888-483-4681 Report the exact location, preferably with a photo, at Tim O'Hara is TCPalm's environment reporter. Contact him at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: FWC seeks public comment on rules for invasive iguanas, tegu lizards
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Do iguanas really fall from trees in Florida when it's cold? Yes, and we have video evidence
But seriously, do massive lizards really just fall out of the trees in South Florida when it gets cold? Yes, and you can watch it happen in a video taken by Avrohom Eliezer Friedman in North Miami Beach on Wednesday, Jan. 22, when a freak winter storm drove temps down across the Sunshine State. A bright green iguana can be seen plummeting from a tree to land on a backyard concrete slab and lie there, stunned. The lizard slowly walked away the next morning, a resident said. Green iguanas are an invasive species originally introduced from warmer climates in Central and South America, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). They live on the ground, in shrubs or in trees anywhere, including suburban developments and urban areas. And they don't handle cold well. "When temps dip to near freezing, nonnative green iguanas can temporarily lose all muscle control, sometimes even falling out of trees," the FWC said in a social media post last week. They don't actually die and they don't freeze solid, but when temperatures drop far enough, iguanas become immobilized. And if they were sleeping in a tree, they may lose their grip and drop to the ground. Like all cold-blooded animals, iguanas can't generate their own heat so as the surrounding temperatures drop, so does theirs. They survive cold weather by slowing down their blood flow, circulation and heart rate. But the paralysis is temporary most of the time. When the temperatures rise again, the stunned iguanas will usually get up and resume their business. Most lizards in South Florida, originally introduced from warmer climates in Central and South America, start getting sluggish when temperatures dip below about 50 degrees and they start falling over around 40 degrees or lower. Generally, if you find a stunned iguana, just leave it alone. Green iguanas, which can grow to over 5 feet long and weigh up to 17 pounds, will usually come back on their own once the weather warms up and they can become aggressive, biting and scratching to get away. 'Iguanas are wild animals, and once they recover and warm up, they could act defensively. Iguanas have sharp teeth, claws and a long tail that they may use to protect themselves when acting defensively which can potentially be a safety risk,' said Sarah Funck, nonnative fish and wildlife program coordinator for the FWC. It is illegal to possess a live green iguana in Florida without a permit. In fact, the FWC recommends killing them humanely or calling a professional pest control or wildlife trapper to help. Green iguanas are not protected in Florida, except by anti-cruelty laws, and may be killed on private property with the owner's permission or on the 25 FWC-managed public lands without a license or permit. If you already have a pet iguana you can no longer care for, do not release it into the wild (it's illegal). The FWC has an Exotic Pet Amnesty Program where you can surrender them, no questions asked, and they will be adopted to new owners who have been pre-qualified and have the required permits. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Frozen iguana spotted falling from tree in Florida, watch video
