comscore Florida officers catch giant lizard that terrified neighbors | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Top News

Florida officers catch giant lizard that terrified neighbors

Honolulu Star-Advertiser logo
Unlimited access to premium stories for as low as $12.95 /mo.
Get It Now
  • FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION VIA AP / NOV. 7

    In this image, an escaped pet Asian water monitor lizard is shown after it was captured. It was first reported loose in August in a Davie, Fla. neighborhood. Residents said it lurked in their back yards and scratched at their patio doors. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said today the Asian water monitor lizard measures over 8 feet long.

  • FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION VIA AP / NOV. 7

    In this image, an escaped pet Asian water monitor lizard is shown after it was captured. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said today the Asian water monitor lizard measures over 8 feet long.

DAVIE, Fla. >> Florida authorities have caught a huge lizard that has terrified residents of a suburban Miami neighborhood for months.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said today the Asian water monitor lizard measures more than 8 feet long.

The lizard is an escaped pet. It was first reported loose in August in a Davie neighborhood. Residents said it lurked in their backyards and scratched at their patio doors.

Wildlife officers and Davie police officers caught it Tuesday after getting a tip from a resident who said the lizard frequently appeared on his property around midday.

A wildlife commission statement says the lizard will be returned to its owner, who received a criminal citation for its escape.

Owners must have cages to keep these lizards as pets. It’s illegal to release nonnative species in Florida.

Comments (2)

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines.

Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.

Click here to see our full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. Submit your coronavirus news tip.

Be the first to know
Get web push notifications from Star-Advertiser when the next breaking story happens — it's FREE! You just need a supported web browser.
Subscribe for this feature

Scroll Up