This is the kind of thing that could certainly ruin your vacation if you met it face to face, know what I mean? Imagine having to keep all the kids and small pets inside all summer, just because of a silly little 6 foot Monitor lizard running loose!
Residents warned: 6-foot lizard loose in Colorado
STEVEN K. PAULSON, Associated Press
Updated 09:42 p.m., Tuesday, July 17, 2012
DENVER (AP) — A sheriff has warned residents in a tourist town northwest of Colorado Springs that a strong, aggressive 6-foot lizard that eats small animals — including dogs and cats — is on the loose in the area.
Teller County Sheriff Mike Ensinger said Tuesday that a 25-pound pet Nile monitor lizard has gone missing after breaking a mesh leash and crawling away.
Ensinger said about 400 homes in the Woodland Park area were warned. He added that the animal, which escaped Monday and is known as Dino, has not bitten any humans — yet.
"We have a 6-foot reptile out and about," Ensinger said. "If it gets hungry enough, we don't know what it will do."
Ensinger said his animal control division is searching for the animal.
Area resident Rick Stasi said the sheriff's advisory was unsettling, warning "pet owners and parents are urged to use caution while pets and children are outdoors."
Stasi said he plans to keep his two small dogs indoors.
Bradley Bundy, a veterinarian at Dublin Animal Hospital in Colorado Springs, said the lizard could inflict a nasty bite if cornered.
"This kiddo could hurt someone if they don't know how to restrain it," Bundy said. He added that the lizards are sold in area pet stores and look cute when they're only 8 inches long, but they can grow to reach 9 feet when they get older.
Ensinger said officers may use a tracking dog if Dino isn't located by Tuesday afternoon.
"I'm not going after it," Ensinger said. "I don't do reptiles."
It seems to me that there is something totally wrong with being able to keep a critter 6 feet long that could eat small children and pets...in the city and restrained by only a mesh leash! I mean, this thing is a 25 pound meat eating reptile! I don't know about you, but that kinda creeps me out!
Fresh coffee on the patio this morning, but keep a watch out for anything big and hungry looking crawling around, OK?
You know, some states have laws regulating exotic pets. I'm not big on government regulations, but really.
ReplyDeleteHope there isn't one of the opposite sex around. Then there'd really be trouble.
ReplyDeleteBubba -
ReplyDeleteDown Under we saw some really mean looking lizards in the wild, usually 2 - 4 ft long, but that was their natural habitat, kinda like we would see raccoons or coyotes here. I just stayed away from them, and taught my kids the same - they had quite a jaw grip!
And oh, I found your blog followers - they have moved to the bottom of your blog, after comments, rather than down the sidebar like they used to be. But at least I found Dizzy, SixBears, Momlady and the rest. Glad to see you again, guys!
Big hugs -
I heard this on the news the other night. Really scary; especially knowing that some idiots are keeping such exotic pets and then don't have the sense to properly cage them. My feelings are that no one has the right to keep exotic pets except in a zoo. Normal people are just too stupid and careless. Is my spot on the porch swing open cud I'm on my way for coffee.
ReplyDeleteHey Sixbears...
ReplyDeleteI agree that in this case maybe the regulations are a good thing, if there are any!
Hope no one gets bit!
Thanks, my friend, for coming over today!
Hey Momlady...
I think you're right about that! I'll bet it would be a noisy fight!
You have a great day, and thanks for coming over this morning!
Hey Sis...
Probably a good time to use the old adage "if you don't bother them, they won't bother you!"
I sure won't want to see one in action up close!
Thanks for letting me know you found the followers. Bet they didn't know they were lost!
Thanks for the visit today, Sis!
Hey Linda...
I have to agree with you 100% this morning about the common sense thing.
Don't worry, I'm saving you a spot on the swing!
Thanks so much for dropping in today!
UGH! It's bad enough in Florida with those nasty snakes stupid people buy and then become afraid of them or can't keep them feed and release them. Now we have these monster lizards. Creeps me out.
ReplyDeleteNow I will need more coffee. Pass the pot please.
Hey JoJo...
ReplyDeleteOne thing about it, the lizard will be easier to see than a snake in a tree! At least, I would think so!
What ever happened to having a goldfish as a pet?
Thanks, sweetie, for coming over this morning!
All exotic animals should be banned. Eventually some escape or are released by their idiot owners who realize a ten foot python isn't a good house pet. And what happens when they are released? Snake head fish wiping out natural game fish populations in the south. Pythons taking over the everglades. Asian silver carp destroying the Illinois river. Some toddler recently lost a finger to his half-wit father's piranha. People have mamba's and puff adders as "pets". But what can you expect in a country that thinks of "Jersey Shore' and "Housewives of ..." as entertainment.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes this lizard worse than a mean dog? Large dogs have caused more death and injury than these lizards. If you are going to ban them, then where will you stop banning pets. Maybe anything with teeth or fangs or venom or . . . I just don't like the looks of your pet, or . . .
ReplyDeleteThank goodness the lizards we see are substantially smaller. We do have nasty sized scorpions however.
ReplyDeleteTrouble with banning "exotics" is the definition....my ferret are considered "exotic" by some definitions, as are rabbits, sugar gliders, miniature hedgehogs, and some birds.
ReplyDeletePity that a little sense on the part of pet owners appears insufficient.