Status of Invasive Wildlife in Southwest Florida Jenny Ketterlin Eckles Nonnative Wildlife Biologist Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Program
FWC s Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Program Prevention Early Detection Rapid Response Control/Management 888-IVE-GOT1 Education/Outreach
Lakeland Regional office Remove/control Assess biology and impacts Make management recommendations UF Davie Field team
The Big Picture Over 600 species of nonnative wildlife observed in Florida More than 50 species of nonnative reptiles established in Florida Ideal climate, numerous ports and exotic pet trade
AREA INFESTED CONTROL COSTS THE INVASION CURVE Asset Based Protection & Long-term Management Containment Prevention Eradication Introduction TIME Adapted from Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia
Southwest Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)
Nile Monitors (Varanus niloticus) Large lizards native to Sub-Saharan Africa Common around water Opportunistic hunters and scavengers Confirmed breeding in Cape Coral, Homestead, and Palm Beach County Numerous sightings in Broward, not sure of breeding status FWC priority is Palm Beach Listed as Conditional Species, i.e., no longer allowed for personal possession
Nile monitors in Cape Coral Established since 1990s Eradication attempted in early 2000s Over 400 reported Some have reached surrounding islands City of Cape Coral runs trapping program responding to reports
More monitors
Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus)
Burmese pythons Large constrictor (not venomous) native to SE Asia Reported in Florida in 1970s and determined to be breeding in 2000s Eat wide variety of native wildlife Conditional species Average removed in Florida is around 10 long Largest removed in Florida was 18 8 long Increasingly found in SW Florida
2016 Python Challenge TM January 16 February 14, 2016 Prizes for most and largest snakes Four new partner areas in SW Florida Awards Ceremony, February 27, 2016 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Long Key Natural Area and Nature Center, Davie
Other large constrictors
Black spiny-tailed iguanas (Ctenosaura similis) Invasive? More omnivorous Documented eating hatchling gopher tortoise Share burrows with burrowing owls
Black spiny-tailed iguanas Typically stick to urban and coastal areas Tegu rapid response efforts resulted in a number of spiny-tail reports in more interior, natural areas
Chameleons X 3 Three different species in Florida since 2010 One species confirmed in two new counties Oustalet s, Veiled and Panther Threat not necessarily ecological it s social
Veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) Multiple observations in Caloosahatchee River corridor since early 2000s Have since shown up in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties Released/seeded so that they can later be collected and sold
Argentine black and white tegus (Tupinambus/Salvator merianae) Large, nonnative lizard from South America Two different populations discovered in mid-2000s in Miami-Dade and Hillsborough Counties FWC has employees assessing and trapping in both locations along with partners from counties, UF, USGS and ENP Over 600 removed from Miami-Dade in 2015
What are the potential threats? Eat a wide variety of native and nonnative everything Able to overwinter in all of Florida by burrowing Listed species in both locations where they are found Possible agricultural implications
Tegus in Collier County March 18, 2015 near Bird Rookery Swamp Traps set and driving surveys conducted Credible sighting April 15 near Corkscrew Swamp SW FL CISMA sent out mailer to Golden Gate Estates in July Media attention
Tegus in Collier & Lee Counties
How do I help?
Thank you! Jennifer.Eckles@myfwc.com Questions?