Police capture fugitive lizard
Photo
Jim Hurley of the Rock County Humane Society holds the black throated monitor lizard that had been roaming Janesville for over a week.
JANESVILLE — We can't call him "The Janesville Lizard" anymore.
His name is Peter Pan, now. And with a little luck—and some turkey—he'll soon recover from a hairy few days in the city of Janesville sewer system.
At 5:46 p.m. Thursday, Janesville police used a dog snare to catch the 4-foot black-throated monitor lizard that has been loose in Janesville since at least Tuesday, Sept. 28. The lizard apparently emerged Wednesday to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and sunshine. He was captured at 613 Williams St., which is the same yard in which he first was sighted last week, Sgt. Mark Ratzlaff said.
The homeowners did not own the lizard, Ratzlaff said.
The Rock County Humane Society picked up the lizard. He was to spend Wednesday night in a crate in the back room of the shelter, operations manager Jim Hurley said. Hurley had the thermostat set at 80 degrees and had high hopes for Peter Pan's recovery. He also was happy that Janesville residents seemed to empathize with the cold-blooded animal during its ordeal.
"It's cool that this thing most people won't get within 20 feet of, people are so concerned about," Hurley said.
Hurley didn't name the monitor, by the way. The name is courtesy of Heather Schumol with Serpent Sanctuary near Fort Atkinson. The professionals at Serpent Sanctuary, a licensed reptile rescue, will check Peter Pan over and make sure he gets the food and care he needs, Hurley said.
And the "he" is only being used for convenience. Schumol will have to determine if Peter Pan is a male or female, Hurley said.
Peter Pan seemed unharmed, but monitors are predators and can easily hide injury and illness, he said. Hurley said he is confident Peter Pan will be well cared for. Schumol has been taking care of an Argentine tegu—a cousin to the monitor—that the humane society caught near the Janesville Ice Skating Center in July. Schumol is bringing the tegu back to visit today when she comes to pick up Peter Pan, Hurley said. Schumol told Hurley that the tegu has been thriving on a diet of scrambled eggs, grapes, turkey, steak and strawberries.
Schumol has a process she uses to determine a large reptile's likes and dislikes and to socialize it if it is not used to being handled by people, Hurley said. The sanctuary also will make sure that people who adopt the reptile live in a city that allows such pets and will run background checks on potential owners.
Monitors and tegus are illegal in the city of Janesville.
The monitor was seen last week by several people in the area of Williams Street and Memorial Avenue. At least one person reported that it escaped down a sewer drain.
Police have not identified Peter Pan's owner.
Hurley hadn't expected the creature to last through the weekend. He held Peter Pan carefully on a table during his interview. The monitor hissed and growled and occasionally flicked his long, pink tongue during his photo shoot.
Hurley, though, was all smiles.
"Rescues like this … it's what I'm here for."
Oct 13, 2010 at 8:15 a.m.
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http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/...
And Janesville worries about a tiny lizard?!
Oct 10, 2010 at 11:26 a.m.
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AWESOME! Keep us posted!
Oct 9, 2010 at 11:16 p.m.
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Peter Pan is doing fine in the rescue and has started eating already. Soon we are hoping to have him start working as an education animal for the rescue once he settles in. We are currently working on a huge enclosure for him.
Oct 9, 2010 at 2:39 p.m.
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RE: This thing looks like the creature that re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings recently. Think Bart Fever could throw him a pass? He would look great in purple.
Why would you refer to an African-American human, as a "creature" who signed with the Vikings??????? A little racist of you I would say...take off you hood!
Oct 9, 2010 at 10:33 a.m.
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I was happy to see they got him before it got too cold for the poor guy.
Oct 9, 2010 at 6:34 a.m.
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Regarding the lizard flicking his long tongue - are we sure the Rock Co. fair board did not sign KISS to perform this coming summer. This could all be for promotional purposes. Time to Rock N Roll All Nite!
Oct 9, 2010 at 5:38 a.m.
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Ok, thank God this poor beautiful creature was caught before it got to cold. And for any moron that can't tell that it is the same lizard as in the picture needs to get their eyes checked. Both pictures have the lizard with all the same markings and it's sad that they have everyone worrying about another lizard. There isn't another one people! I wish Janesville would let people have lizards cause I would take him in a heart beat! Such precious animals they are!
Oct 8, 2010 at 5:46 p.m.
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I'm surprised to be so relieved to hear that this poor tropical creature has been found and placed in an environment in which he or she can thrive. I'm not a lizard enthusiast, but it really aggravated me that some moron would release a creature to certain death, one that has previously depended on the kindness of people to survive. Yeah Peter Pan! May your days be warm and full of tasty insects.
Oct 8, 2010 at 3:37 p.m.
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I'm told that grilled, they taste just like chicken!
But then again, you probably would too.
Oct 8, 2010 at 2:49 p.m.
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The real question is how do they taste grilled?
Oct 8, 2010 at 1:15 p.m.
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I do have to say...I was concerned for the little guy. I'm glad that he is safe, and will find someone that will really care for him...NOT throw him out for suffer.
Oct 8, 2010 at 12:12 p.m.
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look for the second lizard on the grassy knoll.
Oct 8, 2010 at 11:47 a.m.
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Awesome! I hope he does well and is given a good home.
Oct 8, 2010 at 9:53 a.m.
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They speculated there could be a possible second lizard Thursday. If you look in Friday's Gazette and compare the two photos, it looks to be the same lizard. No evidence of a second one on the loose.
Oct 8, 2010 at 9:13 a.m.
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FROM: http://www.channel3000.com/news/25316023... The monitor lizard captured Wednesday is about 3 feet long -- 2 feet shorter than witness reports. And from the Gazette: At 5:46 p.m. Thursday, Janesville police used a dog snare to catch the 4-foot black-throated monitor lizard that has been loose in Janesville since at least Tuesday, Sept. 28. Were two lizards captured?
Oct 7, 2010 at 8:55 p.m.
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Chiller- I usually hate when people make comments that have nothing to do with the story, but that's funny!
Oct 7, 2010 at 7:28 p.m.
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This thing looks like the creature that re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings recently. Think Bart Fever could throw him a pass? He would look great in purple.
Oct 7, 2010 at 5:54 p.m.
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*********************
FREE PETER PAN!
*********************
"Born free, as free as the wind blows
As free as the grass grows
Born free to follow your heart "
Oct 7, 2010 at 4:49 p.m.
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This is the story from this morning's print edition. The story saying it's the second lizard is from the news blog and was posted today at 1:15pm.
Oct 7, 2010 at 4:29 p.m.
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I am confused you said there are TWO. Now you say it is the one. WHICH IS IT?
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