'Huge' -- Rock Agama lizards are 'everywhere'

PORT CHARLOTTE — The state of Florida has no shortage of reptiles, but Mara Kiefer, for one, has seen new, colorful ones that have taken her aback.

The red-headed reptiles, lizards known as Peter's rock agamas, are "everywhere," according to Kiefer.

Her husband works at the Maria Manor Condominium Association in Charlotte Harbor and he has been seeing them all the time lately.

"I absolutely hate the normal lizards here," Kiefer said. "So I am not even willing to get out of the truck at this location — they are literally everywhere and so big."

The species has been in the state since 1976, when they were first documented, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife. They were introduced via the pet trade.

They have established in in numerous counties including Sarasota and Charlotte, according to FWC.

The Florida Invasive Species Council defines "established" as "a species having a self-sustaining and reproducing population in specified geographic area without the need for human intervention. It applies to native and nonnative animals."

Because of that the FWC says that calls about them — in Charlotte, Sarasota, and numerous other counties where they are established — are unnecessary. They do, however, encourage calls about invasive fish and wildlife.

The nonnative reptiles are not protected, except by animal cruelty laws. They can be humanely killed on private property with landowner permission year-round.

Agamas feed mostly on insects or small lizards, snakes and birds. There has been documentation of them eating their own offspring, according to FWC.

They can negatively impact native insects and reptiles in the area by eating the former, and competing with the latter for food.

The FWC states that while agamas are easy to spot, especially the more colorful males, they can be hard to capture.

"Eradication of established populations in Florida is likely not feasible," the FWC website states.

Kiefer, for one, has not made any calls, per FWC suggestion, but with her fear of lizards, she hopes they do not become a part of her everyday life at home.

"I just hope they don’t populate North Port," she said.