And to continue the giant animal theme:
Florida tries to wipe out cat-sized African rats:
Monster Rats
Gambian Pouch Rats: "The African rats can weigh 6 to 9 pounds (2.7-4 kg), with body shades ranging from brown to gray. They have large ears, black, beady eyes, hamster-like pouched facial cheeks, sharp teeth and distinctive long, stringy and white-marked tails."
And they can carry monkey pox, which can also affect humans:
"That was after an outbreak of monkey-pox, similar to but milder to humans than smallpox, was linked to Gambian rat contact with prairie dogs in the U.S. Midwest.
The CDC hopes to study the carcasses and fecal samples of Gambian rats from the Grassy Keys to learn about internal parasites, but they have shown no signs of monkey-pox.
"We're lucky that's the case," Witmer said. "They sure can bite."
Personal note: Outside the hospital in Compton, I once saw a calico rat that I thought was a cat because of its strange fur and huge size, but nope. I guess there already some giant rats in America. But still, 9 pounds is substantial ...