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A warm place NOT to retire
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California Girl
A warm place NOT to retire
As I've been doing my due diligence in checking out South Florida, I've asked myself all along, why are there SO MANY vacancies, houses for sale/rent, incredibly low prices in Cape Coral? Although the surrounding area (Ft. Myers, Punta Gorda, etc.) are still affordable, what is it with Cape Coral??? Well my friends, I believe I just found the answer. Considering this article is 2 yrs. old, I can just imagine how many Nile Monitor Lizards are running around in Cape Coral these days!!
Nile Monitors Are Winning the Battle Against Humans in Cape Coral
Females of the invasive species can lay up to 60 eggs a year.
http://www.theledger.com/article/200906 ... /906205066
Nile Monitors Are Winning the Battle Against Humans in Cape Coral
Females of the invasive species can lay up to 60 eggs a year.
http://www.theledger.com/article/200906 ... /906205066
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California Girl
Well, as much as I love reptiles (and I do!), I really don't want to live where the 5' - 7' lizards that can run 18 mph. out-number the residents! The mental picture I get is that of the sports arena scene in Godzilla! 
If you take a look at this distribution map http://www.eddmaps.org/florida/species/ ... ?sub=18353 it shows where the Monitors are most highly concentrated (zoom in on Cape Coral - your mind will be blown!). Of course, the most heavily populated areas are right where I want to live!
So the plan now shifts to Fort Myers and south to Bonita Springs. Still also considering North Ft. Myers, Punta Gorda & Port Charlotte, but I'm pretty sure Fort Myers is our main focus now. We're going down there for a week in late September for a "recon" and I'm sure we'll come back with some fairly firm plans. Did you see the newspaper article I posted on Connie's thread about renting vs. buying there? It's really very interesting and something to think about!
*Edit: Promoguy asked me why not still consider east Cape Coral? But I see a good possibility of those lizards spreading in that direction in the not-so-distant future! You can see it beginning on that distribution map.
If you take a look at this distribution map http://www.eddmaps.org/florida/species/ ... ?sub=18353 it shows where the Monitors are most highly concentrated (zoom in on Cape Coral - your mind will be blown!). Of course, the most heavily populated areas are right where I want to live!
So the plan now shifts to Fort Myers and south to Bonita Springs. Still also considering North Ft. Myers, Punta Gorda & Port Charlotte, but I'm pretty sure Fort Myers is our main focus now. We're going down there for a week in late September for a "recon" and I'm sure we'll come back with some fairly firm plans. Did you see the newspaper article I posted on Connie's thread about renting vs. buying there? It's really very interesting and something to think about!
*Edit: Promoguy asked me why not still consider east Cape Coral? But I see a good possibility of those lizards spreading in that direction in the not-so-distant future! You can see it beginning on that distribution map.
If these lizards are as out of control as feared, I think I could supply an idea to eradicate them. Having been a pretty serious bass fisherman a few years back, I will tell you that if a jackpot is offered, sportsman can make a serious dent in the population of any species. Have a contest, with entrance fees, a big jackpot for the guys with the biggest total number of catches, another prize for the biggest single lizard caught, and gold diggers would start showing up and producing positive effects. Never underestimate the American redneck, especially when both money, and bragging rights are factors!
When you find yourself in a hole.... quit digging.
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California Girl
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California Girl
Linne - My friend who lives in Fort Myers told me that it's not just the lizards that have Cape Coral in a bad situation. Apparently there was a real estate "boom" in that area and many developers came in and built houses, and that drew a lot of people and created more jobs, and the demand for housing went up so the prices increased, and then people started buying second homes as an investment. Well, when the "big crunch" came along the developers went broke so there were no more homes being built and the builders had no work, so they left to find work elsewhere. Then without the building industry, the people who made money from it, like local plumbers, electricians, merchants, restaurants, building suppliers, real estate brokers, banks and bankers all lost their businesses or jobs, and they all moved out of the area, so between the lizards and the real estate foreclosures & short sales, the place is just very depressed. 