- I'm Coyote Peterson.
Now, a lot of you have written in asking
me to do an episode on the Brown Anole.
And for those of you that have,
I've got some really great news.
I'm on location in Florida,
and they are absolutely everywhere.
Let's go see how many we can catch.
(electronic tribal style music)
(roaring)
This is the best part about staying in Florida,
is all the Anoles.
It's always nice to be able to walk
right outside your hotel room,
and catch little lizards.
Look at that, right on a white fence.
Clearly, he's not working on his camouflage game.
This is the perfect time of day to look for them.
You got the sun,
just at about three o'clock in the sky.
And, they are soaking up the last rays of the day.
- [Voiceover] You can get him.
This is an awesome shot.
- Got him.
- [Voiceover] Nice!
- Woo!
- [Voiceover] What a great catch!
- Oh ho ho.
And, look at that.
There it is.
The invasive Brown Anole.
Now, let me show you something
really cool about these Anoles.
This isn't gonna hurt him in any way, whatsoever.
Look at that.
You see that flap of skin right there?
That is called the dewlap,
and these male Anoles use this
to attract the females during breeding season.
As you can see right now,
he's not interested in breeding.
But, he is interested in, ooh!
In biting.
But, these little tiny teeth can't even break my skin.
Sorry buddy.
That's not a bite that's gonna make
our Bite Highlight Reel.
Look at that!
He doesn't wanna let go.
Can I have my finger back?
Please, please?
Ooh, yeah.
He's got me pretty good.
Just, there you go.
Okay, I know, you didn't like that.
Look at that.
Look how aggressive they can be though.
Now, I love these little lizards,
despite the fact that they're invasive
here in Florida,
because they're so much fun to catch.
Now, if you're out there on vacation
and you wanna know something
that is safe to go after, it is the Anole.
However, I have to warn you.
Their tails do pop off really easily.
So, never grab these lizards by their tails
because they'll pop them off, and then,
they'll be more susceptible to predators.
But, there you have it, the Brown Anole.
Right here behind our hotel.
How cool is that?
I think we could probably catch one
that's a little bit bigger, though.
So, let's let him go and see if we can
get one that tops this.
Got a snake.
Right here, right here!
- [Voiceover] Hmm, what?
- [Coyote Peterson] It's a rat snake.
No!
It's a Black Racer.
Holy cow, and they're super fast.
Right there, you see him?
- [Voiceover] Yeah, he's slithering.
- Oh ho ho,
and I'm on this side of the logs, buddy.
I'm gonna get you.
Watch how fast they dart,
as soon as they decide to take off.
Got him, got him, got him, got him.
Woo!
Oh ho ho.
Trying to catch Anoles.
If we come across, ahh!
Ooh, he bit me.
Good thing is, is he's not venomous.
Look at that, rattling the tail just like a Rattlesnake.
That's a warning sign where he tries to
make me think that he's venomous,
even though he's not.
Ooh boy, he got my hand good.
Now, this is one of the top predators
that's out here eating the Brown Anole.
And, they are so unbelievably quick.
Oh, you, mmm!
Again, geez, maybe I should just hold him
kind of out like this so I don't take any more bites.
Look at how beautiful that snake is.
Now, this is another species
that does incredibly well in a residential area
like this, because there are so many things
for them to feast on.
Obviously, the Brown Anoles are a pretty
easy snack, but they've got all sorts
of rodents.
And, they will even go after baby birds
if there are nests.
These snakes can climb.
Look at how beautiful that snake is.
Incredibly smooth and that's what allows
him to move through the environment
so quickly.
Oh boy, he's looking right at my face
and he's saying, "Just get a little bit closer.
"I gave you a bit on both hands,
"and I would love to bite your nose."
That's not gonna happen.
And, he is musking right now,
so that's another defensive tactic.
Let me poop, scare you away with that smell.
And, I'm sure it tastes pretty bad.
But, holy mackerel!
That is the Black Racer.
- [Voiceover] Kinda unexpected, huh?
- Totally unexpected!
I don't know if we're gonna be able to top this.
I was hoping for a bigger Anole.
You never know what you're gonna find.
Whoa!
- [Voiceover] Did he bit you in the face?
- He bit my hat.
You never know what you're gonna find.
Whoa!
(laughs) It knocked me.
Oh, ow, oh, stop biting my thumb!
Knocked me right on my butt.
Right here behind our hotel.
So much wildlife.
You never know what you're gonna find
whenever you're out there on vacation.
I'm Coyote Peterson.
Be brave, stay wild.
We'll see you on the next adventure.
All right, let's let him go back off into the woods,
so he can hunt for Anoles.
Woo, that was a close one!
If you thought that was one wild adventure,
check out the time I got a little too close
to the Gila Monster.
And don't forget,
subscribe to join me and the crew
on this season of Breaking Trail.
Oh, yep, he got the whole top of my thumb.
(animal noises)