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Hobbet
Sir Postalot
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 1345
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 Posted: 07/19/03 - 19:37 Post subject: Big ass lizards breeding in Florida
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CAPE CORAL, Fla. - Biologists in southwest Florida have set out to trap a species of giant, carnivorous lizards normally native to Africa that appear to be spreading through the region.
Cape Coral has become a haven for Nile monitor lizards, and their population in the Gulf Coast city has possibly reached the thousands, said Todd Campbell, a University of Tampa assistant professor of biology who has started a project to monitor the monitors. Options being studied include relocating or killing the animals.
The first official report of a monitor lizard in Cape Coral was in 1990. Since then, Cape Coral has received 145 reports.
Nile monitor lizards, which can easily grow to 5 feet, might have become established in Cape Coral in one of two ways, Campbell said. Some may have been released into the wild after being kept as pets, or the roaming lizards might all be descendants of a single pregnant female who was released.
Campbell and his assistants, working with state and federal grants, are trying to learn whether monitor lizards have become a threat to native species. The animals 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.''
In Africa, the lizards eat crocodile eggs, fish, mussels and snails.
``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.''
07/18/03 20:03 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
 They are taking over
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Occulis
RealPoor Jedi
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 13293
Location: Moral Relativity Central
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Posted: 07/19/03 - 19:46 Post subject:
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SILVERMOUSE YOU WERE RIGHT
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Majy
RealPoor Sensei
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 1713
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Posted: 07/19/03 - 19:53 Post subject:
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someone find pics
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Majy
RealPoor Sensei
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 1713
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Posted: 07/19/03 - 19:57 Post subject:
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nevermind
Oh, also, I found a REAL one for sale for $40, and a FAKE one for sale for $34... I think I'll take the real one thx.
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Hobbet
Sir Postalot
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 1345
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Posted: 07/19/03 - 20:03 Post subject:
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Buy it Majy, and I will buy one then we can train and breed them to eat people we dont like.
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Sabalo
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 20 Oct 2002
Posts: 2162
Location: Olympia, Washington
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Posted: 07/19/03 - 20:53 Post subject:
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you for instance?
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Paco
RealPoor Jedi
Joined: 13 Oct 2002
Posts: 12939
Location: Jacksonville, FL
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Posted: 07/20/03 - 00:09 Post subject:
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hehe, hobbett uses aol
busted!
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WheresNWS
RealPoor Master of Posts
Joined: 19 Nov 2002
Posts: 6448
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Posted: 07/20/03 - 00:13 Post subject:
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| Paco wrote: | hehe, hobbett uses aol
busted! |
Ouch!
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Tinladar
Sir Postalot
Joined: 03 Jan 2003
Posts: 1448
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Posted: 07/20/03 - 00:28 Post subject:
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Oh nos!! Ish, get his ip address and report it to the associated press so they can take legal action Quick!!!!!1111!!!!!111!!!
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ATM Banana
RealPoor Master of Posts
Joined: 02 Jan 2003
Posts: 8575
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Posted: 07/20/03 - 01:18 Post subject:
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AOL is so awesome, i love that internet provider.
/sarcasm
f**k AOL
/sincerity
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Hobbet
Sir Postalot
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 1345
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Posted: 07/20/03 - 16:56 Post subject:
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Oh no not AOL. Holy shit omfg assfuckcockfartshitdamn 
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