So, what are the more recent creatures seen in Antigua and Barbuda? A strange ground lizard, monkeys, snails, and Cuban frogs. The latter two are especially seen after a heavy downpour. They appeared in the country within the last two decades. The snails and frogs are not native to Antigua and Barbuda. Both creatures manage to slide or jump their way high onto the walls of houses, fences, and other structures. Residents try to avoid them but must deal with them, even reluctantly, by donning gloves, throwing salt on the snails, carefully picking them up and putting them in plastic bags, then either disposing of them or calling the authorities to dispose of them. As for the frogs: Residents throw salt or bleach on them before disposing of them in the trash.

A Rare Sighting

Tree lizards and ground lizards were always to be found in Antigua and Barbuda. The ground lizards that at one time was seen mostly in St. John’s have gradually migrated to other neighborhoods outside of the city. Recently, a silver-gray ground lizard with a red mouth was spotted sashaying across a yard in Potters, heading toward a neighbor’s fence. That is a rare sight for some, and a rare species in these parts. It could have once been someone’s pet. Iguanas and monkeys now live on the island and threaten farmers’ crops. More and more people have been sighting iguanas. It is believed they and monkeys were brought to the island as pets, and then let loose. The monkeys have been pretty much out of sight for most of the residents. Bananas have been scarce lately, making some wonder if the monkeys have anything to do with it.

Holes in the Yard

 These days, ground lizards and snails have made holes in the ground in people’s yards. The ground lizards aren’t known for spreading diseases in Antigua and Barbuda. As for the amphibians: society has yet to see what health risks they pose. When looking at holes in someone’s yard, it is hard to distinguish which ones were dug by reptiles and which were burrowed by mollusks.

As rare as it is to see the native mongooses up close, they have been spotted in residential areas, mostly running at the base of neighbors’ fences. They’re an odd sight in a yard, considering not too many homeowners raise chickens these days. Eggs are a favorite for the mongoose. Generally, they are seen in areas where there are more trees than houses, darting across roads and into bushes. Thanks to the mongoose, there is not a snake population surviving in the country.

So, there are unfamiliar creatures living among the citizenry. Accordingly, residents have to adjust to the migrants.