Nile Monitor Lizard call to action Up-Date

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Feb 28, 2006 UpDate
Mr. LePera,
This is to let you know that according to our Regional Office, the House of Representatives Hearings to discuss '07 Federal budget appropriations are scheduled for March 13 and the Senate Hearings are scheduled for sometime in May. Thus, the original date of March 1 that was given to us for contacting Congressional delegates has been extended to the above dates. I apologize if the original date may have caused any stress or confusion, but that was the only date we had at the time.
Bernice U. Constantin
State Director
USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services
2820 E. University Ave.
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352-377-5556)
"Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.." (Samuel Johnson)

Feb. 17, 2006
This is a call to action following the meeting with the USDA to help eradicate the monitor lizard from Cape Coral and Lee County. The USDA is committed to the removal of the monitor lizard from Florida. The funding is dependent on how much noise our government officials hear from folks like yourself. It is important to act quickly as the federal budget is basically set by the beginning of March. I'm also asking that you keep the bulk of the last paragraph (has the dollar figures in it) largely intact. The elected officials need to get a consistent message of what we are asking of them. I would greatly appreciate you taking a few minutes, reading through this and rattling some cages (pun intended). Thank you very much. Kraig Hankins, M.S. Environmental Biologist, City of Cape Coral (239) 574-0746 khankins@capecoral.net

January 25, 2006
The City of Cape Coral has a population of the Nile Monitor Lizard perhaps numbering in the thousands. The City has been logging sightings and attempting to eradicate the monitor lizard since 2001. The trapping effort has included city employees, grant-funded individuals, college interns and volunteers. So far, we have captured 120 monitor lizards. Varanus niloticus select to view http://civicchatline.blogspot.com/2005/10/capes-monitor-lizards.html

In recent months, monitor lizards have been sighted on Sanibel Island, Fort Myers and in the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Buffer Preserve. They are probably established on Pine Island. The fears that these exotic lizards would spread to the barrier islands are most likely founded. With the realization that the City’s current efforts are not adequate to reduce the population of the monitor lizard, we are enlisting the aid of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Wildlife Services. They have been the lead agency dealing with the Brown Tree Snake, African Pouch Rat and feral hogs among others. They are familiar with the monitor lizard problem and are interested in assessing what is needed to control their population. They are attempting to gauge the amount of local support for an eradication/management effort. They are also interested in meeting with anyone concerned with the spread of the nile monitor in SW Florida. I am contacting you for support in eradicating the monitor lizard in Lee County.

There are two things I would ask you to consider:

First, Bernice Constantin, the state director is willing to bring some folks to Cape Coral to meet with anyone interested in this exotic animal. We are tentatively planning a meeting with USDA Wildlife Services personnel on February 15 or 16, 2006. The actual date has not been confirmed, but the meeting place will likely be Cape Coral City Hall. I will reserve a suitable room once the date and approximate number of participants are known. If you are able to attend this, please let me know. If one day is better than the other, please let me know that as well.

Second, the USDA needs to hear from concerned individuals now that they support this project. The amount of federal funding for this will depend on the amount of public support for its necessity. Please pass this information along to anyone that is concerned with the spread of the monitor lizard in SW Florida. A call, letter, fax or email stating your support of eradication of the monitor lizard would be helpful.

Bernice Constantin, Florida, and Puerto Rico Wildlife Services State Director
2820 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32641
Phone: (352) 377-5556 Fax: (352) 377-5559 Toll-Free: 1-866-4USDAWS 1-866-487-3297
E-mail: bernice.u.constantin@aphis.usda.gov

Thank you for your efforts in preserving Florida’s natural resources.
Kraig Hankins, Environmental Biologist, City of Cape Coral
(239) 574-0746 khankins@capecoral.net

Cape Coral Canals

In Our City's Future?

South Broward County news briefs

Posted January 13 2006

Pembroke Pines

City asks for guidelines to sue the School Board

Alleging the Broward School Board acted in bad faith, City Manager Charles F. Dodge on Thursday said he would ask city commissioners to begin the steps it must take before it can sue.

City officials on Tuesday, at the suggestion of School Board members, went to the board meeting prepared to argue for more tax money to operate their charter schools. The board, however, refused to let the city present its case.

Dodge called the decision "inexcusable" and said it makes clear the School Board has "no intention" of acting in good faith.

If city commissioners agree to his request on Wednesday, the state-mandated dispute resolution process would begin.

It requires face-to-face meetings of officials on both sides of the issue, plus mandatory arbitration, before the city can file suit.