[DonH57]

I would think most of the assorted birds I've seen here in the villages would enjoy a variety of anoles just as we enjoy our variety of foods.

[blueash]

Originally Posted by Blueblaze

Yes, snakes are (rather lousy) predators. I bet most of the rats they live on will adapt. I just find it really hard to get all that concerned about non-venomous pythons in the jungles of Florida .

May I gently suggest facts that may change your opinion about lack of harm from pythons as they are "rather lousy predators" The other species that used to populate the Everglades would beg to disagree if they had survived the python invasion.

Pythons compete with native wildlife for food, which includes mammals, birds, and other reptiles. Severe declines in mammal populations throughout Everglades National Park have been linked to Burmese pythons, with the most severe declines in native species having occurred in the remote southernmost regions of the Park where pythons have been established the longest. A 2012 study found that populations of raccoons had declined 99.3 percent, opossums 98.9 percent, and bobcats 87.5 percent since 1997 (Mammal Decline). Marsh rabbits, cottontail rabbits, and foxes effectively disappeared over that time

Now 12 years after that data was collected it is so much more extensive with the pythons range extending beyond the areas where they were found in 2012.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

Does anyone know what this is?

That's a 5-lined skink.

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

That's a 5-lined skink.

Originally Posted by Blueblaze

I believe that's a "Skink", although it's probably some Florida-specific version.

Thank you, I hope they like bugs cause I seem to have several running around here, and brown anoles.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

Thank you, I hope they like bugs cause I seem to have several running around here, and brown anoles.

Yup. Most lizards of that size will eat insects, spiders, beetles, and even smaller lizards. Skinks are omnivorous and like berries as well.

Reptiles are awesome! (I once had a job working in the reptile room of an exotic small pet shop back north, feeding snakes and cleaning lizards' cages)

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Velvet

I train mine. They would hang by the garage door or front door and come in then I couldn’t find them and they die. So I put vinegar in a spray bottle (which also gets rid of the bugs they are sticking around for) and spray (not on plants) as soon as I open the door. They can also hear, unlike snakes who are deaf but I have a blower for them) and I’ve trained them to move away from where I am by simply clapping or saying, “s h i t z” which translated into English, means “scat”. Sometimes the leader stands on a rock and blows out his orange throat at me, and I just clap near his ear and he backs off. Lately I’ve just been using water in my spray bottle. High percentage vinegar killed one, which had not been my intention.

I have noticed too that the beautiful native emerald green smaller anoles are now almost completely gone.

They’re hiding in green bushes… I have green ones up in my queen palms. Occasionally I see them coming down the palm and jump into green bushes. I notice they didn’t turn red when I see them in my copper leafs?

[Nana2Teddy]

We have a variety of lizards. I have to admit when we first closed escrow on our new home here in DeLuna in Dec 2022, I was worried that we had no lizards or frogs because I love critters. Well, almost two years later and they have exploded. All colors, including many green ones, and all sizes. We’ve seen ones so tiny their tail was still just a nub, which I at first thought was an insect.

We only occasionally see a green tree frog, but have several native southern toads that come out only at night. We can hear them chirp occasionally during the day behind our rock waterfall where they hide. We started with only one last summer, and this year have at least three. They’re cool!

[Rocksnap]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

And New Yorkers! Please don't pith them, they don't mean any harm.

Oh geeze, not New Yorkers. Talk about invasive!

[Rocksnap]

Originally Posted by Blueblaze

Species have been invading new environments since before there were people. Cuba is only 90 miles away, and we're surprised that a nearly identical lizard somehow found his way here? Who cares?

I think it's funny how the same people who freak out over "invasive species" generally consider a human invasion to be good for "diversity". If species were never allowed to invade new environments, 8 billion homo-sapiens would today be packed into three small countries in Africa.

Yes, snakes are (rather lousy) predators. I bet most of the rats they live on will adapt. I just find it really hard to get all that concerned about non-venomous pythons in the jungles of Florida, or non-native Iguanas hanging out on a street in Key West. I even sorta wish some of Tampa's cute monk parakeets would invade the Villages

In fact, I kinda like the brown lizards a little better than the native green ones, to tell you the truth. They seem friendlier and therefore easier to catch, when they get lost in my lanai and need a helping hand to get out.

I’m thinking a little more research on your end would change your tune. Many invasive species decimate their environment of normal critters.

[Windguy]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Didn’t waste my time reading cause florida has bigger fish to fry.


I find them beneficial and I don’t care what FFG says, they catch insects and do IMO absolutely no harm. IMO it’s some invasive humans bulldozing every square inch also problem.

Yes. You are not alone. Many Americans don’t like science.

The native green anoles have the same diet, so they would step in to eat the same insects if we helped them recuperate.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Windguy

Yes. You are not alone. Many Americans don’t like science.

The native green anoles have the same diet, so they would step in to eat the same insects if we helped them recuperate.

Plenty of insects in Florida to be shared. Insects and bulldozers are abundant. There also growing sheep population.

[Windguy]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I say let nature sort itself out.

That can be a real problem. I read recently that someone let their goldfish go in a small pond near a large lake. They are growing very large and are eating all the snails and other species that help control the ecosystem and the pond is dying. I think they wiped out the other fish in the pond. The pond is filled with scum, now. If the large lake dies with it, then fishing, boating, skiing, and other recreation will end.

Scientists are worried that the goldfish could somehow get into the large lake (birds losing their grip on them?) and destroy it, too. Apparently, they are not good tasting, so people won’t eat them. There is a bounty on them.

Please, everyone, don’t release your unwanted pets into the environment.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Windguy

That can be a real problem. I read recently that someone let their goldfish go in a small pond near a large lake. They are growing very large and are eating all the snails and other species that help control the ecosystem and the pond is dying. I think they wiped out the other fish in the pond. The pond is filled with scum, now. If the large lake dies with it, then fishing, boating, skiing, and other recreation will end.

Scientists are worried that the goldfish could somehow get into the large lake (birds losing their grip on them?) and destroy it, too. Apparently, they are not good tasting, so people won’t eat them. There is a bounty on them.

Please, everyone, don’t release your unwanted pets into the environment.

Don’t you mean Asian carp?

[airstreamingypsy]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

Does anyone know what this is?

Blue Tail Skink.

[Vleka]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

Does anyone know what this is?

Skinks are a protected species.