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Razor-clawed carnivorous invasive reptiles spreading in South Florida pose bigger threat than iguanas, officials say

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Razor-clawed carnivorous invasive reptiles spreading in South Florida pose bigger threat than iguanas, officials say


They swim with paddle-like tails, climb trees using hooked claws and hunt on land. Nile monitor lizards, powerful carnivores that can grow longer than six feet, are spreading through South Florida, earning a reputation from wildlife officials as one of the most dangerous invasive reptiles in the state.

Data show sightings have grown significantly in recent years, particularly in the Florida Peninsula, where entire neighborhoods in Cape Coral are now considered their established habitat.

According to EDDMapS data, Lee County, in the Tampa Bay area, leads the state with 1,616 reported sightings, followed by Palm Beach County with 299, Miami-Dade with 76, and Broward with 68.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission classified the Nile monitor as an invasive species and added it to Florida’s Prohibited species list in April 2021.

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Where do Nile monitors come from? And how did they get to Florida? 

The Nile monitor is a semi-aquatic lizard native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is the largest lizard species in Africa, and according to the U.S. Geological Survey, the largest and most dangerous non-native lizard established in the United States.

Adults can stretch more than 7.5 feet long and weigh over 20 pounds, according to USGS. FWC said a typical adult in Florida averages about 5 feet and roughly 15 pounds.

They’re olive green to black with yellow striping on the head and jaw. Their tails are long and flattened like a paddle, which experts say helps them swim. They can stay underwater for 12 to 15 minutes and are just as comfortable climbing trees as they are moving through canals.

USGS said they’re also smart, adaptable and highly mobile, traits that make invasive species especially difficult to control.

File image. Adults can stretch more than 7.5 feet long and weigh over 20 pounds, about the size of a medium-to-large dog, according to USGS.

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Henk Bogaard / Getty Images


In Africa, Nile monitors are found throughout much of the continent, especially near rivers, wetlands and lakes.

In Florida, wildlife officials believe most populations stem from the pet trade.

According to FWC and USGS, monitors likely arrived through escaped or intentionally released pets. They can break out of cages using their claws or push open enclosures. Some may have escaped during hurricanes that damaged reptile facilities. Others may have been released when they became too large or difficult to handle.

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Once established near canals and waterways, they found ideal habitat. South Florida’s extensive canal system essentially acts like a highway network for a semi-aquatic reptile, experts say.

Why are Nile monitors considered dangerous?

Nile monitors are powerful wild predators that are generally not aggressive toward people unless cornered, wildlife experts said.

FWC described them as “generalist feeders,” meaning they eat almost anything they can overpower. That includes fish, frogs, turtles, snakes, birds and their eggs, small mammals and even young crocodiles.

Because they raid nests, they pose a risk to protected species such as sea turtles, gopher tortoises, burrowing owls and the American crocodile, according to FWC and USGS.

USGS noted their size and defensive behavior make them potentially dangerous to pets and, if cornered, to humans. They can bite with strong jaws, slash with sharp claws or whip their muscular tails.

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FWC warned residents not to attempt to capture them.

Nile Leguan, close-up

File image. FWC described them as generalist feeders, meaning they eat almost anything they can overpower. That includes fish, frogs, turtles, snakes, birds and their eggs, small mammals and even young crocodiles.

Getty Images / Fotofeeling


In Cape Coral, where the largest known population exists, residents have reported monitors digging burrows along canal banks and roaming residential streets.

“There are a lot of invasive monitors, especially in our neighborhood,” Cape Coral resident Jack Schwartz told local television station WZVN on Feb. 20. 

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Alane Passero described one running inside her home.

“[Out of the] corner of my eye, I see this huge monster running in my house straight to the back door. The nails are clacking on the floor. I’m screaming my head off,” she said.

Florida Nile monitors vs. green iguanas 

South Florida residents are used to seeing green iguanas, especially after cold snaps. But Nile monitors are a different animal.

Green iguanas are mostly plant-eaters. Nile monitors are carnivores that actively hunt vertebrate prey.

Monitors are bulkier, with longer necks, narrower snouts and thicker, more muscular tails. They also have a blue tongue, a distinctive trait noted by USGS.

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And while iguanas can grow large, no native or commonly seen lizard in Florida approaches the Nile monitor’s size and strength.

Where are Nile monitor sightings growing the most in Florida?

According to EDDMapS:

  • Lee County: 1,616 sightings
  • Palm Beach County: 299
  • Miami-Dade: 76
  • Broward: 68

USGS stated the species is firmly established in Lee County and spreading into Charlotte County. FWC confirmed established populations in Lee and Palm Beach counties, with additional reports across South Florida.

Recent confirmed sightings include:

  • Cape Coral in Lee County, Aug. 7, 2025
  • Boynton Beach in Palm Beach, Sept. 10, 2025
  • Broward, Jan. 16, 2024
  • Miami-Dade, Nov. 19, 2021

While some counties report isolated individuals, experts caution that single sightings should not automatically be dismissed as escaped pets.

Can Florida stop the spread of Nile monitor lizards?

Florida wildlife experts say full eradication is no longer considered feasible, according to USGS and researchers at the University of Florida.

FWC actively removes Nile monitors from known populations and encourages residents to report sightings through the IveGot1 app or by calling 888-483-4681.

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The reptiles can be humanely killed on private property without a permit. The City of Cape Coral operates a local trapping program, and federal partners manage populations at Homestead Air Reserve Base.

For now, wildlife officials say early reporting is key.

And for South Florida residents, the message is simple: if you see what looks like a small dinosaur near your canal, don’t approach it — take a photo and call it in.



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GALLERY: Barrett-Jackson ‘Super Saturday’ takes over South Florida Fairgrounds

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GALLERY: Barrett-Jackson ‘Super Saturday’ takes over South Florida Fairgrounds


The engines are revving for one final day of high-stakes bidding and family fun at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach auction reaches its grand finale today with an action-packed “Super Saturday” lineup, promising to close out the weekend with a full slate of collector car sales, live entertainment, and fan attractions.

“Super Saturday,” presented by Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, officially kicks off at 8 a.m. when gates, food courts, and the exhibitor marketplace open to the public.

What to expect

  • 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: The Fantasy Bid presented by Dodge begins early, running in tandem with the automobilia auction in the arena.
  • 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Thrill-seekers can catch Dodge thrill rides on the Barrett-Jackson Performance Track.
  • 10:00 a.m.: New amenities open to the public, including the Stella Artois, Staging Lanes, and Food Court patios, which offer shaded seating and auction views.
  • 10:45 a.m.: The national anthem will be performed in the auction arena, signaling the start of the main collector car auction at 11 a.m.
  • Afternoon Entertainment: DJ sets run from noon to 5 p.m. across the various patios, and a detailing clinic by Adam’s Polishes is scheduled for 2 p.m. near the South Showcase.

For those unable to attend, the whole event will be livestreamed throughout the day on the Barrett-Jackson website and the HISTORY channel from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Today’s finale comes on the heels of a high-energy Friday that saw significant sales and notable celebrity interest.

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Star power was evident throughout the day, particularly with vehicles tied to the Busch family. A 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible owned by Samantha Busch and a 1969 Oldsmobile 442 Custom Coupe were among the day’s heavy hitters, each fetching $159,500. Kyle Busch’s 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Coupe also drew a strong bid, selling for $143,000.

Other Friday highlights included:

  • 1968 Ford Mustang Eleanor Replica: $137,500
  • 2004 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Mamba Edition: $132,000
  • 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Custom SUV: $126,500
  • 1957 Ford Thunderbird Custom Convertible: $121,000
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With a festival-style atmosphere and high-profile sales driving momentum, organizers expect a busy crowd for the final push at the auction block today.



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Bodycam captures life-saving rescue of choking baby by Florida deputies

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Bodycam captures life-saving rescue of choking baby by Florida deputies


A quiet Monday turned into a frantic race against time when a deputy stepped in to save a choking 1-year-old’s life.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call about a 1-year-old baby choking. Upon arrival, the responding deputy performed life-saving procedures to help the child breathe again.

See also: Two arrested after 6-year-old arrives at Florida school with bruises, deputies say

Body camera video shows a deputy holding the baby, flipping it over on its stomach, and beginning to pat the baby’s back.

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When the baby begins to cry, the deputy is heard saying, “he’s good.”



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Son of 2nd patient who died after seeing Florida surgeon describes family’s heartbreak: ‘It’s just not right’

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Son of 2nd patient who died after seeing Florida surgeon describes family’s heartbreak: ‘It’s just not right’


Weyman Dorsett knew something went wrong with his mom’s surgery as he watched an ICU doctor review her medical charts.

“I’ll never forget and it’ll never leave my mind, the look on that doctor’s face as he was reading through the files,” Dorsett, 53, said. “… He was just shaking his head, like: ‘what in the living hell is going on?’”

His mother, 70-year-old Dorothy Dorsett, was in recovery after a surgeon removed a tumor from her digestive tract. But she was hardly eating and had an abnormally fast heartbeat, according to a lawsuit Dorsett later filed. She was moved to the ICU nearly a week after the surgery.

“She just started really spiraling, pain,” Dorsett said. “She was not my mom.”

She died days later, on Aug. 4, 2023.

About a year later, another patient, William Bryan, 70, died after the same surgeon operated on him.

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The surgeon, Thomas Shaknovsky was arrested this week, accused of accidentally removing Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen, prosecutors said. Shaknovsky operated on both Dorothy Dorsett and Bryan at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach.

Shaknovsky and his lawyer could not be immediately reached for comment. However, he has denied wrongdoing in Dorothy Dorsett’s case in court filings of his own, arguing that some of the allegations were inaccurate and that descriptions of Dorsett’s care were incomplete. The lawsuit remains ongoing.

Do you have a story to share? Email reporter matthew.lavietes@nbcuni.com or reach us at our tip line.

The hospital did not immediately return a request for comment. Earlier this week, Macdonald Walker, a spokesperson for Ascension Sacred Heart, said in a statement that Shaknovsky “was never a Sacred Heart Emerald Coast employee and has not practiced at any of our facilities since August 2024.”

Weyman Dorsett filed a lawsuit against Shaknovsky and Ascension Sacred Heart last year, accusing the doctor and hospital of negligence. He spoke out for the first time since his mother died in an interview with NBC News on Thursday.

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“I’ve got two boys, a wife, now a grandbaby, and you know, I’m trying to be there for them, but, man, I’ve struggled mentally in dealing with it,” he said. “It’s just not right.”

Harrison Dorsett, Dorothy Dorsett, Mr. Weyman Dorsett Sr (now deceased), and Weyman Dorsett Jr.
Harrison Dorsett, Dorothy Dorsett, Mr. Weyman Dorsett Sr (now deceased), and Weyman Dorsett Jr.Dorsett family

On July 24, 2023, Dorothy Dorsett was admitted to the hospital after suffering abdominal pain, Weyman Dorsett, said. At the time, he said his mom was “in great health.”

“She was going non-stop. She lived on her own, drove everywhere, she went all over,” he said. “Prior to the surgery, she flew to my oldest son’s wedding in Bentonville, Arkansas, with a broken leg from a car wreck.”

At the hospital, his mom was diagnosed with gastrointestinal bleeding and acute blood loss anemia, according to the civil complaint.

The next day, the Dorsett family met Shaknovsky, whom Weyman Dorsett described as “odd.” He said the doctor prayed by his mom’s bedside before the surgery.

“It was way over the top,” Weyman Dorsett said. “It was very insincere to me.”

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He said his mother thought Shaknovsky was “very weird.”

That day, Shaknovsky performed a colonoscopy and found a tumor in Dorothy Dorsett’s digestive tract, which he removed on July 27, 2023, according to the complaint.

During the surgery following the colonoscopy, Shaknovsky did not perform a routine test, which would have ensured there were no leaks in a newly joined intestine, according to the complaint.

Shaknovsky told the family that the surgery “went great,” Weyman Dorsett said, but his mother’s condition immediately started to deteriorate.

He said that his mom was moved to the ICU on Aug. 2, 2023.

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Weyman Dorsett left that night, but his mother called him to come back to the hospital at midnight, saying she was going to die.

“My mom looked at me and just said, ‘It is what it is. I’ve lived a good life,’” he said. “And I had to sit there and watch her die.”

On Aug. 3, 2023, a doctor on call, Dr. Chun W. Chen, documented Dorothy Dorsett’s condition, according to the complaint, noting that he saw “more air than I would expect postsurgical” and mentioning concern “for bowel perforation specifically around the chain sutures in the pelvis.”

Chen added in the report that pockets of air had formed around Dorothy’s pelvis, according to the complaint.

“Although this may be postsurgical, cannot exclude bowel perforation,” he wrote.

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Chen said in a brief phone call that he didn’t remember the patient and declined to comment further.

That evening, Shaknovsky documented in a daily progress note the air and fluid collection in Dorothy’s pelvis, according to the complaint.

Shaknovsky did not advise surgical intervention due to Dorothy’s declining organ function and risks associated with anesthesia, the complaint says.

Dorothy Dorsett was pronounced dead at 5:29 a.m. on August 4, 2023, according to the complaint. She passed away surrounded by family, the complaint says.

“Until you go through it yourself, and to be there with my mom and watch her suffer, and to be there when she takes her last breath has been devastating,” Weyman Dorsett said. “I suffer every day. It’s a haunting memory that I can’t erase out of my mind.”

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Harrison Dorsett, left, Coleman Dorsett, back, and Dorothy Dorsett.
Harrison Dorsett, left, Coleman Dorsett, back, and Dorothy Dorsett.Dorsett family

Allegations of another botched surgery

On Aug. 21, 2024, prosecutors allege that Shaknovsky accidentally removed William Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen during what was scheduled to be a laparoscopic splenectomy.

Shaknovsky, who had been licensed to practice medicine in several states, had his Florida license suspended about a month after Bryan’s death. Later that year, he voluntarily surrendered his license to practice in Alabama. New York then suspended his license in 2025.

Bryan’s widow, Beverly Bryan, filed a civil lawsuit against Shaknovsky in 2025, accusing the surgeon of causing her husband’s death.

After the suit was filed, Weyman Dorsett learned that the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration completed an investigation into his mom’s death in September 2024, after Bryan’s botched surgery and more than a year after Dorothy’s death.

The investigation found that Shaknovsky and other hospital physicians “failed to appropriately use diagnostic testing and delayed in ordering imaging to timely treat sepsis” in Dorothy Dorsett’s case, according to a copy of the report.

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration did not return a request for comment.

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Shaknovsky was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of second-degree manslaughter in the death of Bryan, according to officials.

“It’s bittersweet,” Weyman Dorsett said. “You know, nothing’s going to bring back Mr. Bryan, or my mom and all the other people that are still out there that have been butchered and suffered.”

Dorothy Dorsett grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, where she and her husband, Weyman Dorsett II, her high school sweetheart, raised their two children: Weyman Dorsett III and his sister.

“She just was everything you would think the American dream mom would be,” he said. “She led by example, best cook in the world. She was our rock.”

She and her husband moved back and forth from Alabama to Miramar Beach, Florida, about 30 miles west of Panama City. She moved to Miramar Beach permanently following the death of Weyman Dorsett II in 2021.

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Weyman Dorsett III described his mother’s passing as a “big piece missing.”



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