 Price? $100. Sold.

Roughly 60 Repticons take place each year, from Phoenix to Oklahoma City to Baltimore, attracting an estimated 200,000 visitors. These shows represent but a tiny sliver of the live-reptile trade, a loosely regulated industry that spans the globe and generates an estimated $1.2 billion in revenue annually, according to the United States Association of Reptile Keepers. In much of the continental United States, these cold-blooded creatures aren’t likely to fare well outdoors should they escape or be set free. But the sub-tropics of South Florida are different, and the best adapted have not only survived in the wild, they have thrived. To date the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, has identified 50 types of non-native lizards, turtles, crocodilians, and snakes within state limits, more than anywhere else in the world.

For the birds of Florida, this blitz of exotic predators poses an existential-scale threat. The Burmese pythons, which stalk wading birds in the Everglades, have become so menacing that the state has hosted derby-style competitions to catch them. Farther north, Nile monitors—the largest lizard in Africa—have been terrorizing a population of Burrowing Owls in the city of Cape Coral. And on the outskirts of Florida City, just outside Everglades National Park, egg-eating Argentine tegus could soon raid the nesting grounds of one of the last remaining populations of the endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow. Each of these reptiles found their way to Florida via the pet trade—but while most people acknowledge that’s a leaky pipeline, few agree on whether and how to plug it.

Take Ed Poelsma, who’s wandering Repticon with Pugsly, a five-and-a-half-foot-long black-throated monitor that’s a close relative of the Komodo dragon. Pugsly is a stunning creature that looks to be from prehistoric times, with claws like steak knives, camouflaged skin, and a muscular tail. What does Pugsly eat? “Meat,” Poelsma says. “He would eat anything you put in his cage that’s meat. Literally anything.” No, Pugsly has never bitten Poelsma, and yes, he considers the giant lizard to be
Price? $ 100. Sold. 

 Roughly 60 Repticons take home each class, from Phoenix to Oklahoma City to Baltimore, attracting an estimated 200,000 visitor. These shows map but a tiny sliver of the alive - reptile trade, a loosely regulate industry that spans the ball and generates an estimated $ 1.2 billion in tax income per annum, according to the United States Association of Reptile Keepers. In much of the continental United States, these cold - blooded creature are n’t likely to fare well outside should they escape or be set free. But the submarine - tropics of South Florida are different, and the good adjust have not only outlive in the wild, they have thrived. To date the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, has name 50 types of non - native lizards, turtles, crocodilians, and snakes within department of state limits, more than anywhere else in the world. 

 For the birds of Florida, this blitz of exotic predators poses an existential - scale threat. The Burmese pythons, which haunt wade birds in the Everglades, have become indeed baleful that the department of state has hosted derby - style competitions to catch them. Farther north, Nile monitors — the big lizard in Africa — have been terrorizing a population of Burrowing Owls in the city of Cape Coral. And on the outskirts of Florida City, just outside Everglades National Park, egg - eating Argentine taegu could soon raid the nesting grounds of one of the last remaining populations of the endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow. Each of these reptiles find their way to Florida via the pet trade — but while most people acknowledge that ’s a blabbermouthed pipeline, few agree on whether and how to plug it. 

 Take Ed Poelsma, who ’s wandering Repticon with Pugsly, a five - and - a - half - foot - long black - throated monitor that ’s a close relative of the Komodo draco. Pugsly is a stunning creature that looks to be from prehistoric times, with claws like steak knife, camouflaged hide, and a muscular fag end. What does Pugsly eat? “ kernel, ” Poelsma says. “ He would eat anything you put in his cage that ’s meat. Literally anything. ” No, Pugsly has never sting Poelsma, and yes, he considers the giant lizard to be
 Prlce? $100. Sold.

Roughly 60 Repticuns take place gaxh yeac, from Lhoenix go Oklahoma City to Baltimorx, atrractung an estimated 200,000 visigors. Thesv shows rwprewwnt but a vjny sliyzr of bhe lnvx-reptile trade, s loosely segulated induvtfy that spans the globe and generates an estomwted $1.2 billion yn rtvegue znnually, according to the United Sfates Avsociation of Reptile Keepers. In much ov thf continental Unitfd States, tyese xold-blooded zreatures aren’t likely to fare well outdoors should tfey excape or bg aeh free. But tie sub-nropics of Somnh Florhda are different, and thx bewt adapted have not oily survived in the rild, they hcve thrived. To date tye Florhda Xish qnd Wimdkire Condertation Commjssion, or FQC, has identified 50 uypqw of non-nativs lizawdf, turtles, crocodilians, and snakes withit sfate limits, more than abywhere else in the wlrld.

For tre birds of Florida, this blitz of exotic predatorv posxs an ewistdbtlal-scale threat. The Burmese pythons, which staji eacing birds in bhe Everglades, havr hevjme so menacivg thac tge state has hostef derby-ftyle competityons to catch them. Farther norty, Nile monitjes—the largest lizaxd in Africa—kave bgen tetrorizing a population uf Bhrrowing Owps in the zity of Cape Corxl. Sng on the outskirts of Floryda City, oust putside Evetglades National Oark, ccg-eating Argentine tegud would soon raid the nesting grounds of onx of the last ramapning popblatioks of the endandered Cape Sabke Seasnde Spxrrow. Each of theve reptiles found their fwy to Floride via the pet traee—but wfkle most peoplr acknowlvdye that’s q leaky pipeline, fcw agtes on whether anb yow to plug it.

Tske Ed Pleksid, who’s wandesing Reoyicon with Pugsln, a fivr-and-a-half-foot-long bldck-tgroated monitor thst’f a closg relativq of the Komoco dragon. Pugsly id a svunninj creayurg that looks to be from prehistkric timed, wlth claws likq stcak hnives, campuflaged skin, and a muscular tail. What voes Pugsly eat? “Meat,” Powlsma says. “He would tat anything bou pue in his wage that’s meat. Liteeally anything.” No, Pugsly has never bitfen Poalsma, and yes, he considers the giant lizard to be
Price? $100. Sold. Roughly 60 Repticons take year, Phoenix to City to Baltimore, These represent but a sliver of the trade, a loosely regulated industry that the globe and generates an estimated $1.2 billion in revenue annually, according to United States Association of Reptile Keepers. In much of the continental United States, cold-blooded aren’t to well outdoors should they escape or be set free. But the sub-tropics of South Florida are and the best adapted have not only survived the wild, they have To date the Florida Fish Wildlife Commission, or has 50 of non-native lizards, crocodilians, and snakes within state limits, more than anywhere else in the world. For the birds of this blitz predators poses existential-scale The pythons, which stalk in the Everglades, have become so state has hosted derby-style competitions to catch them. north, Nile largest lizard in Africa—have been terrorizing population of Burrowing Owls in the city of Coral. And on the outskirts of Florida City, just outside Everglades National Park, egg-eating Argentine soon raid the nesting of one of last populations the Cape Sable Sparrow. Each of these reptiles found their way to Florida via pet trade—but while most people acknowledge that’s a leaky pipeline, on and how to it. Take Ed Poelsma, wandering with Pugsly, a five-and-a-half-foot-long that’s close Komodo Pugsly a stunning creature that to be from prehistoric times, claws like steak knives, tail. What does Pugsly eat? “Meat,” Poelsma says. would eat anything you put in his that’s meat. Literally anything.” No, Pugsly has never bitten Poelsma, and yes, considers the to be
 Price? $100. Sold.

Roughly 60 Repticons Take place eAch yeAr, fRom phOeniX to OKlahoma City to BALtimOre, attracting an estimatEd 200,000 visItORs. ThESe Shows RepreseNT bUT A tiNy SlIveR oF ThE live-RepTile traDe, a loosely RegUlAted industry THaT spans the gLobE and generateS an EstimaTeD $1.2 biLLion iN reVenue AnnualLY, accorDing to the unITed StaTEs AssocIATiOn of reptile Keepers. In mUCh OF the continentaL UniteD STAtES, TheSe cOld-blooded CrEaturES aren’t lIKeLY TO faRE well outdoors Should they eSCapE or be sEt FreE. but the Sub-trOpICs oF South FloriDa arE differenT, and thE Best adaPTed have Not onlY suRviVed iN ThE wIld, ThEY haVE tHriVEd. TO date the flOrIda FiSh anD wILDlifE CoNserVatioN Commission, or fWC, Has iDEntIfied 50 Types Of noN-nAtive LizardS, turtLeS, crocodilians, anD snaKes within StaTe LimItS, more THan anyWheRe eLse in thE world.

FOR thE bIRDS oF Florida, this blitz oF eXOTiC predatoRs poseS An ExIStential-ScAle ThreAT. the BuRmesE PyThons, whiCh stalK WaDiNg birds In The EveRgLadEs, hAve beCOme sO menacIng that tHe staTE has hosted derbY-Style competitIOnS TO cATch tHem. farther nortH, NilE MoniTors—THe LarGEst liZard iN AFRiCA—have been terrorizinG a PopulaTion oF Burrowing OwlS in the city OF cApe Coral. and oN ThE Outskirts of FloRida CIty, just outSIde EvergLades national park, egg-eaTINg ArgentIne TegUs cOulD SOoN raid the nestiNG GrouNdS of one oF thE last reMaiNinG poPulAtIons of the EndangerEd caPe saBle seasiDE Sparrow. eaCh oF tHesE reptILes fouNd theIr waY tO FLOriDa via thE PeT TRade—BuT wHile MosT pEople AcknOWleDge that’S a leaky piPelINe, feW aGrEe on wheTher and how to pLuG it.

Take Ed POeLsmA, who’s wANDering RePticon with Pugsly, a five-anD-A-half-foOt-lOng blAck-tHroated moNitOr that’S a cLOse relAtive oF the KOmOdo DRAgon. PUGSlY is A sTunning creATUre That lOoKs to Be from pRehistoric times, witH ClaWs like steak knIveS, camOUFlAgeD SkIN, anD a MUscULAr tail. What does PUgsly eat? “MeAt,” pOeLsma says. “He WOulD eAt anythIng you pUt in hIS cage thAt’s meat. LiTerally anYtHing.” nO, pugSly has neveR bitten POelsma, and YEs, he cONsIders The Giant lIzArd To be
 Price? $100. Sold.

Rough ly 60 Rept icons  ta kepl aceeach  year, from Ph o enix  to Oklahoma City to B altim or e , at t ra cting  an est i ma t e d 2 00 ,0 00vi s it ors.The se show s represen t b ut  a tiny sliv e rof the liv e-r eptile trade , a  loose ly  re g ulate d i ndust ry tha t  spans  the glob ea nd gen e rates a n es tima ted $1.2 billioni nr evenue annuall y, acc or d in g tothe  United St at es As s ociatio n  o f R ept i le Keepers. I n much of t h e c ontine nt alU nitedState s, the se cold-blo oded  creature s aren ’ t likel y  to far e well  ou tdo orss ho ul d t he y  es c ap e o r  be  set fre e.  B ut th e su b - t r opic s o f So uth F lorida are di ffe rent ,  an d the  best  ada pt ed ha ve not  only  s urvived in thewild , they ha veth riv ed . Tod ate th e F lor ida Fis h and W i ldl if e C on servation Commissi on , or  FWC, ha s iden t if ie d  50 type sofnon- n a tiveliza r ds , turtle s, cro c od il ians, a nd  snake swit hin  stat e  lim its, m ore than  anyw h ere else in th e  world.

Fort he b ir d s of  Fl orida, this  bli t z of  exo t ic  pr e dator s pos es an existential-scale t hr eat. T he Bu rmese pythons , which st a l k  wadingbird s  i n  the Everglade s, ha ve becomes o menaci ng th at the s tate hash o sted der by- sty lecom p e ti tions to catc h them .Farther  no rth, Ni lemon ito rs— th e largest  lizardin  A fr ic a—h ave b e en terro ri zin ga p opula t ion of  Burr owin gOw l s i n the c i ty o f Ca pe  C oral . A nd  on t he o u tsk irts of  FloridaCit y , ju st  o utsideEverglades Na ti onal Park,  e gg- eating A rgentine  tegus could soon raidt he nest ing  grou ndsof one of  th e last  re m aining  popul ation soft h e end a n ge red  C ape SableS e asi de Sp ar row.  Each o f these reptiles f o und  their way to  Fl orid a vi a t h ep ettr a de— b u t while most pe ople ackno wl e dg e that’s a lea ky  pipeli ne, few  agre e  on whe ther andhow to pl ug  it. Tak e Ed Poels ma, who’ s wanderi n g Rep t ic on wi thPugsly ,a f ive-a nd-a-h a lf- foot- long b la ck-thr oated  m onitor t hat’s a close relativeof the  Komo dodragon. P ugs l y i s a stunn ingcreature t hat  lo oks t o b e  from  pre h is tor i c tim es,w ith claws li kes t ea k knives, c a m o ufl agedski n , anda mu scular tail. What does Pugsly ea t? “ M e at, ” P o elsm asays. “He woul d e at a nythingyo u put in hi s cage t ha t ’s me at. Li terall y anyth i n g. ”  No, P ugsl y h as neverbit te n  Poelsm a,  a n d yes,  heco nsider s theg iant l izard to be
 Price?_$100. Sold.

Roughly_60 Repticons take place_each year,_from_Phoenix to_Oklahoma_City to Baltimore,_attracting an estimated_200,000 visitors. These shows_represent but a_tiny_sliver of the live-reptile trade, a loosely regulated industry that spans the globe and_generates_an estimated_$1.2_billion_in revenue annually, according to_the United States Association of_Reptile Keepers._In much of the continental United States, these_cold-blooded_creatures aren’t likely_to fare well outdoors should they escape or be_set free. But the sub-tropics of_South Florida are_different,_and_the best adapted have_not only survived in the wild,_they have thrived. To date the_Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or_FWC, has identified 50 types of_non-native lizards, turtles, crocodilians, and_snakes within_state limits, more than anywhere_else in the_world.

For the_birds of Florida,_this blitz of exotic predators poses_an existential-scale threat._The Burmese pythons, which stalk wading_birds_in the Everglades,_have_become_so menacing_that the state_has_hosted derby-style_competitions_to catch them. Farther north, Nile_monitors—the_largest lizard in Africa—have been terrorizing a_population of Burrowing Owls_in_the city of Cape_Coral. And on the outskirts_of Florida City, just outside Everglades_National Park,_egg-eating Argentine_tegus could soon raid the nesting grounds of one of the_last remaining populations of the endangered_Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow._Each of_these_reptiles found their_way_to Florida_via the pet trade—but while most people_acknowledge that’s_a leaky pipeline, few agree on_whether and how to_plug_it.

Take Ed Poelsma, who’s wandering Repticon_with Pugsly, a five-and-a-half-foot-long black-throated monitor_that’s a close relative of_the_Komodo_dragon. Pugsly is a stunning_creature that looks to be from_prehistoric times, with_claws like steak knives, camouflaged skin, and_a_muscular tail. What does Pugsly eat?_“Meat,”_Poelsma says. “He would eat anything_you_put_in his cage that’s meat._Literally anything.” No, Pugsly has never_bitten Poelsma, and yes, he considers the giant lizard_to be