[JeremyD]

Mostly south Florida - as in south of Sarasota across to West Palm Beach.

We have had them in Tampa but they really don't end up staying through the cold. My favorite story was about a guy who went around collecting them during a cold front and sticking them in his car - with the idea that he could later sell them as pets. Well - one they started getting warm - they go more active (and they are very strong) they got pissed off from being cooped up - he ended up wrecking his car - and the interior got totally trashed from these trying to get out...

We had one on our dock and our bull terrier was going crazy - I had visions of a big honking vet bill (their saliva is very dangerous too - they can carry leprosy). Anyway I poked him with the pool cleaner and he took off swimming and never came back.