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Multiple iguanas, not monitor lizards, living in Florida family's attic

Posted at 10:01 PM, Aug 08, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-09 09:55:47-04

A Southwest Florida family thought they had a four-foot lizard living in their attic. It turns out, experts say they have at least four.

Last month, WFTX-TV reported that Cape Coral resident Danny To had been hearing scratching noises coming from his atticfor the last nine months. He and his neighbors thought they saw a Nile monitor lizard on the roof.

He called in The Wildlife Whisperer to help him and his family out. Ned Bruha set up motion and infrared detection cameras on the roof to catch the creature in the act.

"We don't have a big four-and-a-half-foot lizard living in the attic. We have several of them," Bruha said.

Photos captured by the cameras show multiple lizards making the roof and attic their home.

Danny was shocked to find out there were so many lizards living in there.

Jimmy Pellerin, the Vice President of Wildlife Whisperer, Inc., said the lizards aren't Nile monitors -- they're black spiny-tailed iguanas. The iguanas are herbivores, and he said they aren't inherently dangerous.

"Anything can pose danger if you threaten them, corner them, trap them in such a way. If they use their tail to whip you it's going to sting. If they bite, you would bleed," Pellerin said.

To keep the iguanas out, Bruha will install a spring-loaded one-way at the hole in the roof.

"Once they leave, they can't get back in," Bruha said.

"I don't like it," Danny said. I want it out of my house. Let's get it out!"

Bruha said no lizards will be hurt in the removal process.