A cat-eating lizard indigenous to Africa is being hunted by wildlife officials in Florida, who maintain that these animals, known as Nile Monitor Lizards in the pet trade, present a threat to both pets and people.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Service said on Friday that they are currently “increasing efforts to locate and remove them,” in areas where they remain a threat, such as in canals across Palm Beach County, just north of Miami.

These lizards are sometimes mistaken for iguanas due to their large size – they usually grow to be around five feet long, and are typically yellow, olive or brown in color.

Nile monitors, sometimes described as snakes with legs, have sometimes devoured cats and other small mammals, along with burrowing owls, tropical birds, fish and frogs, according to biologist Jenny Ketterlin Eckles of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Because their diet is so varied, we are assessing whether this species may have an impact on Florida’s native wildlife,” she said.

As the Nile monitors’ season for breeding is rapidly approaching, it is likely that more sightings will be happening soon. Officials are beginning to increase their patrols throughout Palm County and have advised all local citizens to be on watch for the creatures and also to “secure any small pets.”

Anyone who encounters a Nile monitor, which can typically be found basking in the sun near water or roving through their backyard, should take a picture and report the sighting to IveGot1.org.

“Members of the public are advised not to attempt to capture a Nile monitor themselves,” warned the Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Monitors are not innately aggressive but like any wild animal they may defend themselves if aggravated or threatened.”

The Nile monitor is one of a handful of lizards to impact the Florida ecosystem – they already have situations with Lionfish, native to the Indian Ocean, and Burmese Pythons that they are trying to control.