{"id":141131,"date":"2025-03-28T12:11:40","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T05:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=141131"},"modified":"2025-03-28T12:11:40","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T05:11:40","slug":"destructive-invasive-lizard-species-spreading-through-florida-southeast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=141131","title":{"rendered":"Destructive invasive lizard species spreading through Florida, Southeast"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"featured featured-video video-ct\">\n<div class=\"video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video-container\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"embed\" data-video-id=\"play-5ebe695b6000e7f\" class=\"m video-player\"><a href=\"\" class=\"video-link\"><span class=\"overlay\"\/> <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" width=\"640\" height=\"358\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.foxweather.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/weather\/320\/179\/play-5ebe695b6000e7f--18652205249.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/images.foxweather.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/weather\/640\/358\/play-5ebe695b6000e7f--18652205249.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.foxweather.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/weather\/768\/432\/play-5ebe695b6000e7f--18652205249.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/images.foxweather.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/weather\/1536\/864\/play-5ebe695b6000e7f--18652205249.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" width=\"1984\" height=\"1116\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.foxweather.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/weather\/992\/558\/play-5ebe695b6000e7f--18652205249.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/images.foxweather.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/weather\/1984\/1116\/play-5ebe695b6000e7f--18652205249.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.foxweather.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/weather\/992\/558\/play-5ebe695b6000e7f--18652205249.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"An incredible video out of Apopka, Florida shows a gigantic lizard climbing up a man\u2019s door.\" width=\"992\" height=\"558\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/a> <!----><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p class=\"sub-text\">An incredible video out of Apopka, Florida shows a gigantic lizard climbing up a man\u2019s door.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\"><strong>KEY LARGO, Fla. \u2013<\/strong> The Florida Keys is the latest area to report a sighting of a giant invasive lizard species that experts warn could cause significant harm to the region\u2019s native ecosystem.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\">Recently, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/floridakeysrefuges\/posts\/1026127399543378\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex said<\/a> that North Key Largo was home to a sighting of an Argentine black and white tegu, a reptile native to South America.<\/p>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\">The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission believes the species began colonizing in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxweather.com\/category\/florida\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Florida<\/a> through escapes or intentional releases from captivity.<\/p>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\">In addition to the Sunshine State, reports of the tegu have now been confirmed in Texas, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxweather.com\/lifestyle\/big-foot-sasquatch-messmore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DID THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CAPTURE A PHOTO OF BIGFOOT DURING A PENNSYLVANIA STORM SURVEY?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"featured featured-image component-center\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.foxweather.com\/static.foxweather.com\/www.foxweather.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/288\/162\/gettyimages-2189188400.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/images.foxweather.com\/static.foxweather.com\/www.foxweather.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/576\/324\/gettyimages-2189188400.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" width=\"576\" height=\"324\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.foxweather.com\/static.foxweather.com\/www.foxweather.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/720\/405\/gettyimages-2189188400.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/images.foxweather.com\/static.foxweather.com\/www.foxweather.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1440\/810\/gettyimages-2189188400.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.foxweather.com\/static.foxweather.com\/www.foxweather.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/668\/376\/gettyimages-2189188400.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/images.foxweather.com\/static.foxweather.com\/www.foxweather.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1336\/752\/gettyimages-2189188400.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" width=\"1336\" height=\"752\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"668\" height=\"376\" src=\"https:\/\/images.foxweather.com\/static.foxweather.com\/www.foxweather.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/668\/376\/gettyimages-2189188400.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"An Argentine black and white tegu\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p class=\"title\">BRAZIL &#8211; 2024\/10\/04: An Argentine black and white tegu near the Piuval Lodge in the Northern Pantanal, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler\/LightRocket via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"sub-text\"><strong> (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler\/LightRocket via Getty Images \/ Getty Images)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\">&#8220;Argentine black and white tegus are large lizards that can grow up to nearly five feet in length,&#8221; biologists explained. &#8220;They have a distinctive mottled black-and-white pattern, often arranged into bands across their back and tail.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\">These reptiles are also skilled swimmers, making the coastal areas and swamps of the Southeast ideal nesting grounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\">Tegus are omnivores with a broad diet but have a particular fondness for the eggs of ground-nesting birds and other reptiles.<\/p>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eddmaps.org\/distribution\/viewmap.cfm?sub=82961\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">map produced by the University of Georgia\u2019s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health<\/a> highlighted thousands of sightings, with most concentrated along Florida\u2019s Treasure Coast and down to southern Miami-Dade County.<\/p>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxweather.com\/earth-space\/flying-insect-walmart-discovery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>GIANT BUG FOUND AT AN ARKANSAS WALMART IDENTIFIED AS A JURASSIC-ERA INSECT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\">While the Argentine black and white tegu is generally not harmful to humans, the university notes that they are known to defend themselves using their tails and sharp teeth if they feel threatened or cornered.<\/p>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\">Florida wildlife officials have expressed concern over the tegu\u2019s potential damage to the state\u2019s other animals, particularly sea turtles and gopher tortoises.<\/p>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\">Tegus are known to prey on these species&#8217; eggs, complicating ongoing conservation efforts for vulnerable animals.<\/p>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\">The FWC is urging residents to remain vigilant and report any sightings of the invasive lizard to help researchers track and manage its spread.<\/p>\n<p data-v-438398f6=\"\">Florida residents who spot the reptiles are encouraged to report sightings by calling the FWC\u2019s Exotic Species Hotline at 888-483-4681.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxweather.com\/earth-space\/argentine-black-white-tegus\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An incredible video out of Apopka, Florida shows a gigantic lizard climbing up a man\u2019s door. KEY LARGO, Fla. \u2013 The Florida Keys is the latest area to report a &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=141131\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9472],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-141131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-weather","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=141131"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141131\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=141131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=141131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=141131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}