Giant Monitor lizard is terrorizing Florida family

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida family is terrified of a huge Monitor lizard that has taken up residence in their back yard.

The lizard is about 7 feet long (2 meters) and weighs about 150 pounds. Homeowner Zachary Lieberman tells the Sun Sentinel that the lizard was at his back patio door "scratching to get inside the house" on Sunday night.

The family enlisted the help of trappers, dogs and Florida Fish and Wildlife officers to help catch the lizard. They've used dead rodents and chicken thighs to try to lure the reptile into traps, but it has eluded capture.

The wildlife officers even used a video camera scope to check inside a burrow Wednesday.

Lieberman says "it's scary." He's not comforted by the fact that Monitor lizards aren't known to attack people.