Herping Florida, The Invasive Species

[@ralpharpaio9480]

I’m on vacation I. Florida. All I see are lizards. Those little Lizards. HOW on earth do you catch them?!???!? Those geckos also. They are so hard to catch.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

You gotta be quick! Be careful too, they like to bite.

[@TheeMontz]

Put them on your ears like earrings.

[@austinm5644]

I'm in Florida for vacation now and I understand

[@justinfoster6135]

I've been catching them since I was little and after time it gets easy I just have technics to catch them

[@reptilesavage]

THANKS FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO, PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND!

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

You're very welcome. They are fascinating creatures, but can cause big headaches in exotic ecosystems.

[@thesnapperkeeper]

Great channel I especially love the herping videos.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Well thank you very much! There are several trips being planned to make some more herping videos in the near future! Thanks for watching!

[@NeverEndingHerping]

Enjoyed this one thanks for sharing. Chris did a great job!

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Yes he did, we had a load of fun hanging out with him while we got the project done.

[@matthewdean8070]

Good vid, good piratical information. When you do a service for conservation, your doing a service for your great, great, great grand kids.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

That is so true, we need to care for our natural resources so they are maintained and healthy for future generations to enjoy!

[@IanPhillipsWildlife]

Great video, really interesting. We now have a couple of large Red Eared Sliders a park just near my home in London UK and the impact they have had this year on the numbers of baby newts, toads and frogs has been awful, such a shame as this park has recently become a haven for amphibians, but at least its a localised problem, not like you guys have over there. That said I was in envy of you're back yard, invasive species or not!!

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Well thanks! If you can catch them and remove them from the environment, it might help. A pet shelter would probably take them, and even if they don't want them you could leave them in box on the doorstep one night. Hopefully, they have not bred yet.

[@IanPhillipsWildlife]

Yeah its not a big pond, so it should be a fairly easy sweep and theres a crew on stand by, just waiting for the moorhen chicks to get a little older and independent so we don't upset them. Theres a guy based about 20 miles away who finds homes for turtles, we will contact him before we go for the catch. Will post a video of our efforts soon!

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Sounds interesting. I'll be watching for it.

[@FrogTVJoe]

Great video! I just got back from Sanibel Island where iguanas were abundant, and I found them to be impossible to catch! They dashed into the water beneath the underbrush in a literal split second, even the babies.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

They are quick! We've seen some reports about the cold snap knocking them out of trees. That can make them a bit easier to catch LOL. Thanks for watching!

[@ChromatophoneNature]

Another informative video, thanks. Took some video of an invasive Red-ear hanging out with a Wood Duck family near my work a couple days ago :)

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Cool, or maybe uncool, depending on how you look at it, they seem to be just about everywhere.

[@carllivingston169]

While yes the pet trade undoubtedly contributed to the rise of Green Iguanas, the Spaniards first brought them to Florida from Central America for food when they first settle Florida. They did the same thing in Louisiana during Spain's brief control of the southern tip of the state but got too cold.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

That's an interesting point, but with the occasional cold snap since here and there, the ones present in this era are more than likely released pets. Just a decade or so ago they had a massive die off, with Iguanas falling from the trees because of the cold.

[@WILD__THINGS]

Carl Livingston I've never heard of that before. I know the Spaniards brought pigs to the new world but it doesn't at all make sense for them to catch iguanas in central or south America and then bring them by way of ship to north America for food. I doubt iguanas would last very long on a ship at sea and I doubt even more that Europeans would go out of their way so much to eat reptiles. Sounds like a load of horse shit to me.

[@gwuapjit3772]

yeah they are so annoying but there little puddle was drying up so I didn't want them to dye. now 4 of them have legs and 20 are little ones.

[@michaelgalligan1187]

The red eared slider is native to the gulf coast states. It’s not an invasive species in Florida.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

This is true. While they are native to the southeastern United States, they are incredibly invasive, and have been introduced into habitats all over the world. Even where they are native, their release into lakes, streams, ponds, and swamps where they were not originally found results in their outcompeting the resident species and becoming invasive in those waterways as well.

[@0gham]

Why did you release the tree frog? Is there anything that can be done to stop them from spreading?

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

There are so many of those now it really makes no difference. They are here to stay. That's probably true with most of the established invasive species.

[@robertolesen5782]

Very Good video. I live in South Florida too and was thinking: someone more clever and ambitious than myself could make a decent business with doing herping tours here. Lead safaris where they can catch all the exotics they want.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Thanks! That actually sounds like a good idea, wish we had thought of it. Jus make sure you check laws regarding collecting, I know they are exotic and invasive, but you may need licenses to collect certain species, might even be considered wildlife control under the laws, and require approval.

[@tonysprimitiveanimals8445]

Sounded like you were catching a bird when you was catching your green iguana lol. Very nice video again. Interesting info I never been out herping before, but maybe one day. 👍

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Well, I can tell you're into reptiles by looking at your channel, you should go sometime, bet it's something you'd enjoy

[@tonysprimitiveanimals8445]

Sharing The Outdoors maybe later when it gets warmer I’ll go out. Yes I raise animal beside reptiles most of my life, I love them and enjoy spending time with them. Thanks for noticing it.

[@zambimaru]

I saw a few different invasive gecko species when I lived in Central California. Asian House Geckos and Mediterranean Geckos. In the summer time they would be all over my house.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Interestingly enough, California has several native species of gecko along with introduced non-native species. I hope the indigenous species don't get wiped out like the green anole did in areas of Florida because of this.

[@kigucloudjester4467]

I live in central california( tulare county ) and I’ve NEVER seen any geckos, native or non native. I didn’t even know there were any native geckos in central cali

[@zambimaru]

@@kigucloudjester4467 I lived in Visalia and some Summers I didn't see any. They may not be well established, yet.

[@kigucloudjester4467]

@@zambimaru I live in Tulare only 3 minutes south only lizards I’ve seen have been the common spiny lizards

[@WILD__THINGS]

Growing up in Miami, I've always seen millions of brown anoles and very few green anoles. For this reason, I always assumed that the brown anoles were the native species and the greens were non native. I was really surprised years back when I found out it was the opposite.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

True green anoles can turn brown, but they are different from the prevalent species there now, the invasive Cuban anole.When I was young, there were very few if any Cuban anoles.

[@WILD__THINGS]

Sharing The Outdoors True. You can also tell the difference by the fact that greens have a longer, more narrow snout.

[@sparkyjones560]

Sharing The Outdoors Cuban anodes grow huge compared to the native anole. I've seen a Cuban pushing 8" and a mouth that scary as hell.

[@tomcosburn566]

When I visited Florida I saw many green anoles and brown anoles around our resort. I love the way they extend their reddish throat, and the males really scrap it out when a female is nearby. That was back in the late 1970's. I'm sorry to hear that the green anole has declined - it is the more attractive of the 2 species. But I"ve never seen any other invasive species. Beautiful green iguana. We have red-eared sliders in Ontario too (people release them into the wild - fortunately, they are not very common up here - probably because of our long cold winters). Nice footage of some of your native turtles. Cool cuban treefrog, but it's too bad that it is affecting your native species (cool footage of these - especially barking treefrog). The same thing happened here in Canada.The bullfrog has been introduced to British Columbia and it has decreased our population of red-legged frogs and spotted frogs. Very interesting video.

[@bigappleherper458]

Cool vid. Definitely a fan, keep rockin.

[@CrackaTice]

Great video!!!

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Thanks!

[@AlwaysCoastal]

Awesome video! Super informative on Florida’s invasives. We made a video on how to catch invasive chameleons in Florida!

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Well thanks. Im gonna check out your vid, I think chameleons are cool

[@AlwaysCoastal]

@@SharingTheOutdoors Thanks man just subscribed!

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

@@AlwaysCoastal Cool! Hope to see some more from you all as well!

[@briankane3214]

hey buddy we talked about ticks and permethrin do you know whats good to repel bot flies and how to avoid or how common it is to be infected and if you have general knowledge of them in long island NY? thank you

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

I really don't think bot flies are a problem in the States. While there are a type of them here, they usually only affect squirrels, and small rodents, and are known as warbles. I could be possible to get them, but it is very, very rare here. The tyoe we have does not target humans like the ones in South America.

[@briankane3214]

Sharing The Outdoors have ever herped lomg island ?

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

No, we have not. Haven't done much herping north of New Jersey.

[@briankane3214]

Sharing The Outdoors well wegot the long island pine barrens its probably as the same in jersey

[@hstetser5376]

do you live in Hillsborough? I would love to go herping with you guys!

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

No, we actually live in Maryland.

[@hstetser5376]

Sharing The Outdoors. oh cool. I live in Riverview FL. If you ever come back down I'd love to go out with you guys. they are finding a lot of Tegus down here now

[@lfaulk36]

Finding tegus in Hillsborough?

[@sircus25]

Alot of good knowledge ya got there

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Thanks for watching. Being aware of the situation is necessary to try and correct it!

[@mikechavez511]

At florid on vacation and we have brown anodes everywhere in the backyard

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Yes, they have taken over parts of the state fairly well, pushing out the native species that were in the same niche

[@greatoutdoors8678]

Hey man what part of Florida do you live I'm up in North Central Florida.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

We actually live in Maryland. My son, who filmed this video with us, is in the Tampa area

[@greatoutdoors8678]

Oh ok I'm always looking for collaborations I do Florida wildlife videos as well

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Wish we could get down that way more often, but work and stuff, you know, might be a while before we come down for another visit. We are actually planning on a trip back to Deep Creek next summer. But if we do get a chance to head down and see Chris at some point in the future, I'm sure he would love to get together and shoot some video! I know he's up your way sometimes with work, he works for FWC

[@add9319]

I recently found some strange species of frogs around my apartments. These frogs have a almost pale body(not see through pale, more like a white type of color.) I've searched the internet for what type of frogs these are but I can't find what species it is. I thought it was a Cuban tree frog but I havn't heard of them being white with nearly black eyes. Any idea what these things are?

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Without actually seeing them, and just making a guess from your description I would say probably cuban tree frogs. We have seen them very white in color before. Again, that's just a guess though. If they are, be careful and wash your hands if you handle them. They have a foul toxin that will cause your eyes and nose to burn just by getting it on your hands and rubbing your eyes.

[@franklinmichael671]

4:53 is that a barmah hat?

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Not entirely sure. Chris is in Florida right now, and I'm not. I would say Probably?

[@franklinmichael671]

cool

[@chrisdonnellan7634]

great video! until now I thought the gecko was native. now i know they are damaging the ecosystem and ruining it for other geckos so kind of frown upon them now, even though they are all cool to me. can't wait for more herping videos!

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

I still find the gecko a very attractive creature. I've always loved the look they have, something about their eyes. Now the brown anole, I can't stand them. I grew up catching green anoles as a child, you can't find a single one anymore. Very sad indeed, and demonstrates the damage even less noticed invasive species can do if left unchecked.

[@Snake81900]

Cool video. It's amazing how good at surviving wild animals are whether they're in their native range or not.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

It is cool, but it can be very detrimental to the local wildlife that can be reduced or even eliminated by the more aggressive non-native species. It is very important that people realize exotic animals should not be released into the wild.

[@Snake81900]

+Sharing The Outdoors I totally understand and agree with that, as someone who has seen Florida invasives run rampant.

[@briankane3214]

red ears and yellow bellies are invasive up here in long island ny to and we got red bellies that aren't supposed to be here either

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Yes, invasive species are a problem Nationwide, not just animals, but plants can cause problems as well.

[@briankane3214]

Sharing The Outdoors yeah the entire island is a suburb we got so many different ivasive species from peoples property its insane they have been sending contractors to weed out the non natives though i have noticed when i been going out herping myself hopfully they work on the tick pandemic next

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

There's a good product we use that will keep ticks off you. It's called permethrin, and you apply it to your clothing and let it dry. It lasts for about 6 weeks, and will work even after several times through the washing machine. You can get it at most outdoor stores.

[@briankane3214]

Sharing The Outdoors oh i know i believe in that stuff more than jesus thats how good it was but its not good for herps especially amphibians

[@briankane3214]

Sharing The Outdoors and cats

[@michaelgalligan1187]

The brown anole is native to the gulf coast states. The green anole turns into a brown anole also. This makes the brown anole not an invasive species in Florida.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

That's actually not correct. While the green anole (Anolis carolinensis) does have the ability to change color to brown, and is native to the southeastern U.S., the brown anole ( Anolis sagrei) is an introduced species from Cuba and the Bahamas, it can not change colors, and is not native to the continental United States.

[@michaelgalligan1187]

Sharing The Outdoors the brown anole is native to the gulf coast states. I’ve seen a green anole change to a brown anole. They both have the exact same features just different colors.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

@@michaelgalligan1187 Common names of reptiles are often loosely associated with their color or colors, but are often confusing , that's why I posted the Latin binomial nomenclature in parentheses. Note the difference The Genus is the same, but they are most certainly a different species.

[@vogelkonigin3303]

i only have green anoles in my back yard In central Florida

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Your lucky, they are getting harder to find.

[@vogelkonigin3303]

I see at least 5 everytime i go outside... I even caught a few to breed for a friend and still had tons outside.

[@memzeez6785]

I've never seen any where I live, I'm on the gulf side in Sarasota. I went to the Florida keys twice now and seen them all there. Caught and brought one home once, sweet little fella he was

[@jurassicsushi]

I've seen a couple of videos where people were hunting the large green iguanas for food with pellet rifles because of how invasive they are. Does Florida DNR allow this like they do with Lionfish? Another cool Video good sir and nice shirt. Gotta get you a Jurassic Sushi shirt for you to rock out. haha Be well and God bless.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

I don not know if you are allowed to hunt for Iguanas in Florida. I do know they want the burmese pythons removed or killed, and if you find one of those you are supposed to contact Florida Fish and Game so someone can come and get it. Don't know about the Iguana though.

[@jurassicsushi]

Sharing The Outdoors wow those pythons are getting out of control huh?. I guess the local residents could call Florida Fish and Game to find out, especially because they are invasive. Well I'm glad all is well with you and thanks for your reply. Take care.

[@christopherkirby8086]

+Sharing The Outdoors I'm fairly certain as long as methods and the area are legal, iguanas are considered non-game and take as you wish.

[@Cputt50]

I watch your channel

[@sparkyjones560]

Yes and no. Depend on the city ordinance about pellet guns but yes, it's a non native species and you can kill the iguanas and eat them if you want to. I think most people just eat legs and the thick part of the tail, not sure why only those. They say it tastes like chicken.

[@poppasmurff4706]

I used to get baby red ears and keep 2 of them for 2 months then let them go in my pond

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

We don't advise collecting or releasing animals

[@thedarkmasterthedarkmaster]

I thought the red-eared slider was native to north america

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

While this species is native to the southern United States, it is notable because it's listed as one of the worlds 100 most invasive species of all time. It is very invasive even in areas where it's native, as released pets quickly overpopulate ponds, lakes, and streams where they weren't located before and outcompete the turtles that lived there before.

[@thedarkmasterthedarkmaster]

@@SharingTheOutdoors Ah ok

[@BunnyH-pq5jt]

My dad released our red ear slider into a pond once. Luckily it's native to our state.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

That is a prime example of an invasive problem established by the pet trade right there. While it is native to your area, it is a wildly popular pet that has become established because of the pet trade across most of the country, and easily out competes native species. The red eared slider is on the list as one of the 100 most invasive species.

[@X0xKARNAGEx0X]

What about the chameleons and tokay geckos??.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

We would have loved to film them as well, but you can only film what you can locate. They tend to reside more south than the location where we shot this video. In our video Dana and Mike go herping, kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2WwmaJ-aLZklZI which was filmed a bit more south, we found a basilisk wandering around.

[@X0xKARNAGEx0X]

Sharing The Outdoors that's so awesome you can locate those in your area tho south Florida will be a herping trip soon to be made I'm in Utah so it's quite a ways away ha

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Yes, I think Michael shot a video recently in Utah when he went herping there too. It is a ways away to Florida, but with the natural bio-diversity, and the non-natives and invasive species, you never really know what you'll flip next. It's certainly worth the price of a plane ticket and hotel room, which can be very reasonably priced if your not near Disney or the Glades. The Ft Lauderdale area is a great choice, it's far enough south to host many of the less cold hardy species, and the everglades are not so far away that you can't make a day trip out of it to look for pythons too!

[@X0xKARNAGEx0X]

Sharing The Outdoors if I ever make the trip out maybe a herping meet up would have to be in store!

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

It's possible, might be a bit hard to work out though, my son is the one who lives in Florida, we are actually in Maryland.

[@AdventuringwithTrevor]

5 years from now florida gonna have a chinese water dragon problem too

[@theandrejohnsonshow2574]

Love this video man. Super educational and entertaining at the same time! Just asking, what kind of camera do you use?

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Well Thanks. Chris is pretty avid about his herps, and we hope to get back down for a visit and another video in the future at some point. We are using The Canon Vixia HF M 500. It's a good all around camera with terrific low light capabilities, which is a must when we are doing videos for crepuscular creatures. It's a quality consumer camcorder with lots of great features, and it doesn't break the piggy bank.

[@californiaherper970]

Awesome video! We need more videos like it! From Cali especially lol.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

We did a shoot in Cali, and have them on our channel. Long way for us to travel though!

[@californiaherper970]

+Sharing The Outdoors I saw that one and really liked it. What I meant to say was we need more people (including me) to make more videos addressing the invasive species problem across the country as a whole. I really enjoyed this video though!

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Well thank you very much.Now get your cameras out there and make that video. We'll be watching for it!

[@californiaherper970]

+Sharing The Outdoors Will do lol 😆

[@smetlogik]

Good info. I don't think the average person realizes how many invasives FL has and the negative impact they make on the environment. The bullfrog is an invasive here in CO and they can just take over an area.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Not just the reptiles and amphibians either. Exotic birds, fish, even chimpanzees have become established. It's not just Florida either, though the tropical environment does help increase the species capable of gaining a foothold, look at what snakeheads, various species of crayfish, even zebra mussels up north are doing. The emerald ash borer and other insect species wreck hack as well. The worst thing is, very little is being done to prevent or curtail their importation and reign in the pet trade, and the problems just keep multiplying.

[@smetlogik]

Yep, and when you throw in the invasive plants, things get even nuttier. Tumbleweeds out here a few years ago were extremely thick. Huge fire hazard and make it harder for species to move around.

[@niseysherman6698]

Here in New Orleans there are green anoles every where

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Do you have the cuban anole there as well?

[@johnnyrook6371]

Noticed your shirt and thought, "good thing people don't have cloned dinosaurs for pets. The invasive herps problem would get so much worse."

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

So true!

[@johngaineswatts5409]

If you have an iPhone turn up the volume. 6:28 triggers "Hey Siri" lol

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

We had no idea.

[@johngaineswatts5409]

Sharing The Outdoors is that sarcasm

[@prisonmike1798]

I find it quite interesting what Florida will look like in 50 years or so with all the invasive species. Nature will eventually find a balance and the ecosystem will become stable, but hopefully animals will adapt as we don’t want any species going extinct

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Let's hope that's what happens, but with an apex predator like the python mixing with already endangered species like Key Deer it probably wont end well.

[@thornssm7371]

great video!

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Thanks! We hope to be headed back down to Florida soon to film some more!

[@thornssm7371]

Sharing The Outdoors looking forward to it!

[@peteylove33]

I watched to see the Knight " Cuban" Anole

[@barryfennell9723]

Hybridization could be could beneficial for certain genetic disorders, but I'm by no means a purist. I believe that the climate is always changing evolutionary paths and now with modern transportation the rate of invasion is merely accelerated from prior.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

While this is true, hybridization could result in the extinction of certain species as well. The detriment being done to the habitat itself by imports is in excess of what any change in the climate could do in centuries. I will not try and fool myself into thinking that invasive species will ever be extirpated from the environment, or that in many cases, the eco-system adapts and they find a niche without causing the predicted damage (much like snakeheads have done) it would all be so much less of an issue if people would just not release their unwanted exotic pets.

[@jackleo4435]

I think some of these are already here to stay and may have naturalized. Like the green iguana. Thriving and being preyed on by raccoons, bobcats, and gators.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

I would agree, many of the invasive species are well established, and there's probably no eradicating them at this point.

[@GrizzlyDave85]

Some of these were from hurricanes and not releasing things

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Yes, this is true, but still, many are simply dumped because people don't want them, and even if it was the result of a natural disaster, most of that was precipitated by the pet trade anyways.

[@brianrichards7006]

Before I saw the "herping Florida", I thought you were talking about Californians.

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

LOL

[@j.m.youngquist419]

I want you to focus on the pythons

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

They are the icon of Florida's invasive species.

[@tobaccojohn9664]

My nose and sinuses were burning for hours after catching tons of Cuban tree frogs. Don't pick your nose while catching them!

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

You bring back memories. When the boys were young, we took them on a trip to Disney. Of course, they were as into critters when they were 8 as they are now, and of course, they caught them not knowing the danger. That was a LONG night in the hotel room with the kids faces on fire. Mom and Dad even got in on the fun, not knowing what was wrong, and trying to wipe their faces they were exposed as well!

[@tobaccojohn9664]

@@SharingTheOutdoors LOL. Good times!

[@boonvang708]

I like your video because you dont just show pictures

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Well thank you!

[@killzcarrotoutdoors7913]

Did you know that Florida has chameleons too

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Yes, they are typically a bit more south of where we were when we filmed this video though.

[@christopherkirby8086]

I have found the Oustalets and the veiled in Florida. Really cool animals to find, just a shame they don’t belong here. Though studies have shown their impacts on the environment are not as intense as other invasive species.

[@gwuapjit3772]

lol live here in Florida and a tank full of tadpoles "Cuban tree frog"

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Yep, they are everywhere.

[@owtsydr]

I absolutely love Anoles! I want to move there to catch them! I currently have 10 captive bred babies! Please call me! Want to ask you some questions about them! I have some funny videos with them

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

I love the green ones, the cuban anoles not so much. I'll stop by and check them out!

[@brandonvessell4659]

Man I would get lost in Florida

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Yes, we do carry a portable GPS when we head out in some of those spots.

[@tvbox6955]

**** Count how many times you say "kind of" and/or "sort of". Notice how it makes no sense to "kind of" and/or "sort of" these things! Either you do it or you don’t. Either it is or it isn’t. *****

[@quercus4730]

Hundreds of centuries?? Can't say millions of yrs.???

[@SharingTheOutdoors]

Semantics

[@quercus4730]

@@SharingTheOutdoors The same could be said for kinds and species but it is more than semantics.

[@brandonvessell4659]

And geckos

[@fontaineking5158]

Air rifle fun.

[@brandonvessell4659]

Free Chameleons fuck yeah