Nile Monitor Lizard call to action Up-Date
Double click image for larger display...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
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
posted by Civic at 1/27/2006 05:12:00 PM
2 Comments:
Civic response:January 27, 2006
Kraig Hankins, Environmental Biologist
City of Cape Coral
Thank you for your Jan. 25, 2006 update on the Nile Monitor Lizard problem in Cape Coral. As you know the Cape Coral Civic Association on behalf of its more than 250 members, first brought this issue forward to the city as a matter of concern in April 2005. Obviously that concern remains paramount and the eradication of this threat is a must. Also, I would be happy to attend your meeting in February.
The following is posted on Civics' log page; Cape Coral Civic Chatelaine
http://civicchatline.blogspot.com/2005/10/capes-monitor-lizards.html
Some estimate there are as many as 2000 monitor lizards in Cape Coral and increasing daily. Monitors, according to Dr. Todd Cambell a trapper and "eradication expert," can grow to 7 feet in length and weigh upwards of 30 lbs. They are carnivores, they are aggressive and they are a threat to our fragile borrowing owl population, domestic pets and yes, small children as well.
Civic first became aware of this problem at our meeting in April when a guest brought up the problem in having sighted these lizards in her back yard. This prompted Civics first e-mail to the CM and Council on the issue. E-mails sent since have encouraged a more aggressive approach to eradicating this nuisance.
On Oct. 3, 2005 Cape's Nile Monitor Lizard problem made national TV on FOX NEWS Bill O'Reilly Report. O'Reilly featured this segment after hearing Paul Harvey talk about Cape’s lizard problem on the radio just a few days earlier.
Having Cape Coral known as the lizard capitol just doesn't fit the image of paradise. We suggest you direct your concerns on this issue to the Mayor and Council.
I encourage all individuals, groups, and associations to do as Civic has, per Kraig's suggestion and e-mail; bernice.u.constantin@aphis.usda.gov to voice your full support for the USDA to provide federal funding to aid the City of Cape Coral and the County of Lee, in the eradication of Nile Monitor Lizards. Each day that passes this problem is compounded by the rate of reproduction of these lizards.
Thanking you in advance for your interest and efforts in this matter of importance to our city.
Sincerely,
Ralph Le Pera, President
Cape Coral Civic Association
Response from USDA:
I have received your emails stating your concerns about the invasive Nile monitor lizards in your area. We too are extremely concerned about the threat of the Nile monitor lizard in Florida. I am currently working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Wildlife Research Center to develop a strategic plan for dealing with invasive wildlife species in Florida. The Nile monitor lizard is at, or near the top of the list of invasive species that we are concerned about. The Gambian pouch rat is another. We are currently working with Florida's Wildlife Commission to eradicate an established population of Gambian pouch rats from Grassy Key, Senator Bill Nelson's office has expressed a great concern for invasive species and sees a role for federal assistance with the management of invasive wildlife species in Florida.
With that said, I would like to arrange a meeting with all interested parties in your area who are concerned about the monitor lizard to discuss possibilities for managing the lizards with the intent of eradicating them. The most opportune date for me would be February 15th. The meeting could be at your location during the day or evening, at your convenience. Dr. Rick Engeman from the The National Wildlife Research Center in Ft. Collins, Colorado will be in Florida at that time and I would like to have him attend the meeting. Dr. Engeman is one of the primary researchers who developed the successful strategy and methods to control the brown treesnake on the island of Guam.
For those of you who are not familiar with our agency, you may go to the web site below for information about us.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/
Please feel free to call or email me if you need any additional information.
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:
Post a Comment
<< Home