Treats Banned, Komodo Dragons Get Nasty

Residents blame population for upswing in tick-borne diseases

(NEWSER) - When the first deer landed on Nantucket in 1926, cheering crowds greeted them. But as a vicious trio of tick-related diseases devastates the island, many say the Bambis have overstayed their welcome, the New York Times reports. “The numbers of tick-borne diseases are so off the graph, and it all comes back to the deer,” one official says. Residents remain divided over a controversial proposal to eliminate ticks, which feed on deer blood, by allowing more deer hunting. More»

(NEWSER) - Australian scientists have discovered that the world’s largest lizard packs a lethal venom in its bite, the Guardian reports. MRI scans of an ailing Komodo dragon revealed venom glands in the mouth that had never before been documented. The dragons’ poison sends victims into shock by triggering a sudden drop in blood pressure, and also prevents blood from clotting—causing the prey to bleed to death. More»

Fruit-picker mauled by giant lizards after falling out of tree

(NEWSER) - A pair of Komodo dragons fatally mauled a fruit-picker in eastern Indonesia, reports AP. The lizards attacked the man after he fell out of a tree on the island of Komodo, according to authorities. Fewer than 4000 of the carnivores remain in the wild, and attacks on humans are rare, although they have been on the increase in recent months. More»

Native species not big enough for game enthusiasts; disease risks abound

(NEWSER) - White-tailed deer are everywhere in Texas, so why is the state struggling with a deer-smuggling industry? “It’s like everything else in society,” one game warden tells Time, “people want bigger, better, faster.” Luxurious lodges charge hunters big bucks for access to reserves full of, well, big bucks. Texas breeders charge huge sums for such prizes, but smugglers offer them on the cheap. More»

Europeans pelt lizard with rocks during 36-hour ordeal

(NEWSER) - European divers battled a Komodo dragon while waiting 36 hours to be rescued from a deserted Indonesian island, CNN reports. The group, which scavenged for shellfish and pelted the giant lizard with rocks, is dehydrated but suffered minor cuts. Asked if the dragons are dangerous, one expert responded, “Of course! They eat almost everything, including human beings.” More»