May 25, 2007 11:57 pm US/Eastern
Reptiles Invade Ft. Lauderdale
by Natalia Zea
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―
While some South Florida neighborhoods have to live with the fear of alligators lurking their canals, one Ft. Lauderdale neighborhood is asking for relief from too many reptiles of a smaller type.
The Tarpon River neighborhood on the Southwest side of Ft. Lauderdale is complaining of too many iguanas hanging around. It's so bad that the topic was brought up during "citizen presentation" time at a City Commission meeting. The vegetation and lack of harassment in the area has apparently made for a very fertile ground for iguanas.
Not only do they leave large amount of droppings that usually contain salmonella behind, but they have eaten away at the shrubs and plants of many residents, often leaving no trace of the plant behind.
Some want help from the county and the state, but so far the only ones who can help individual homeowners are calling professional trappers such as Robert Schindler of Critter Control.
"They're increasing everyday," said Schindler. "You're finding at this time of year it's breeding season, egg laying season. They're bringing lots and lots of babies."
Schindler explains that the iguanas are not native to South Florida but have gotten here as the result of irresponsible pet owners who have let them go.
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