Pet Owners Watch Out! Cat Eating Giant Lizards Prowling Palm Beach Florida

Floridians beware. For your felines are in danger as cat-eating Nile monitor lizards are on the prowl.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) has warned that the lizards will soon multiply while soliciting assistance from locals of Palm Beach County to remove them. Experts have advised locals not to attempt catching the lizards as their sharp claws and teeth can be more than a handful for humans. Last FWC removed around 20 lizards apprehending impact on the local wildlife.

"Color and pattern variation is pretty common, so the most effective way to verfiy the species is to take a picture of the animal and submit it along with a report of your observation," said biologist Jenny Ketterlin Eckles.

"Nile monitors eat a wide variety of food items including small mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians and more. Because their diet is so varied, we are assessing whether this species may have an impact on Florida's native wildlife," Eckles added.

The lizards are native to North Africa, measure up to five feet long when fully grown and breed in spring. Hatchlings are 7 to 12 inches in length. In urban settings they are usually found in canals or on banks. Though not aggressive, Nile Monitor Lizards can get vicious in defense if they feel threatened.