Yes Stewart, there's 'peepers' that sound like a woman screaming! And all sorts of other noise here at night. I haven't heard them much this year though. The lake behind the house is bone dry, so I think there's less of these creatures around.
Oh & I'm sure whatever the Jamaican guy told you is false. Lizards won't suck the life's breath out of a baby.
The first summer I was living down here, a Gopher Tortoise came right up to me. He was headed towards me & I grabbed my camera to take his pic. I stood perfectly still while he circled my foot. Then he went around behind me & away into the grass. It was so cool!
I love all the critters I see down here. Except for most of the nasty crawly bugs. The spiders are cool though.