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About 18 years ago, I was working on a wedding delivery and when I got home, my son, who was visiting that weekend) met me at the door with excitement fairly palpable in the air. He had seen some sort of lizard that just suddenly appeared on our deck, he said, and it was about 4 feet long and green. He didn't know what kind it was, but he was certain that it was valuable. He had tried to pick it up by the tail, but it jerked back and forth so violently, that he had to let go for fear it would bite him. He ran in the house to find a camera, but when he returned to the deck, the lizard was gone.
Later that day he went to a pet store to see what he could learn about them, and discovered it was an iguana. They told him it was almost surely someone's pet who had gotten free, and that if no one could rescue it before winter set in, it would be doomed to death, since it couldn't abide cold temperatures. We never found that iguana, and we both fervently hoped that it had eventually found the way back home, after taking some time to romp in the trees.
Later that day he went to a pet store to see what he could learn about them, and discovered it was an iguana. They told him it was almost surely someone's pet who had gotten free, and that if no one could rescue it before winter set in, it would be doomed to death, since it couldn't abide cold temperatures. We never found that iguana, and we both fervently hoped that it had eventually found the way back home, after taking some time to romp in the trees.
I wonder if the iguana in the photo hates to see the tree leave when the owners finally throw it out? I wonder if he would climb an artificial tree? I think it's worth a try, don't you?
21 comments:
That is so cool. I would have some sort of indoor shrub or tree for him to be in all the time.
I do hope that the iguana that your son saw survived as well.
We have lots of lizards around here. One spring when David had some students from Penn State stop by here, they couldn't get over all the lizards.
Oops! A 4' lizard would be too large for me!
I've always been somewhat partial to turtles, but an iguana would be a nice alternative.
I find myself hoping the one your son saw ended up leading a happy life. I hope his/her owners had a tree, too, that enticed the wayward lizard to return home.
Visiting from Michele's at this ungodly hour. I think I need to tuck in...even the dog has given up on staying up with me!
YOu would win the Mom of Year award if you had actually kept a 4-ft lizard. I can't imagine.
Aren't iguanas poisonous?
That's the cutest thing in the world. I wanna Larry. It can sleep in Ma's room. Think she'll mind?
Well, Iguanas like Christmas too. ;)
On the news last night was a story about a couple who discovered a small snake in their Christmas tree, even though the husband had shaken the tree outside and aimed a leaf blower at the branches before bringing it in the house!
They called a professional to come in and remove the snake.
Can you imagine reaching in to put an ornament on the branches, only to touch a snake? echh!
Laura, VitaminSea
Iguanas can cut through steel. They have become hazard at some places.
I think Michele would like to read this post too.
rooted
reading room
Judy,
We were on the beach at Ocean City once and I felt something brush my bare feet. I looked down and almost died of shock. It was a huge Iguana!
It belonged to the family who had set up their chairs and blankets next to us. They considered him part of the family and brought him to the beach with them.
We didn't move right away because I didn't want to hurt their feelings, but as soon as we could go and not look like it was because of the iguana, we scooted to another part of the beach.
Nice to read of a happy iguana. This is probably my last visit until we get back so all best wishes to you and all the family and I hope you and Mr Kenju will have a happy healthy 2008.
That's cool! Loving the lizard decoartion, and how it looks like it's about to eat that little angel.
I'd be tempted to keep a tree year-round if I had me an iguana.
Michele sent me over this time, Judy. Howdy!
I love the story about the iguana. I associate them with deserts and never considered them to be tree dwellers. Oops. It'd be neat to have one living in a Christmas tree. (but not a 4 foot long one!)
That would be awesome to decorate your tree with iguanas! Just think, a moving tableau! :)
A 4' Iguana is certainly a strange "ornament"...however, so is this...I volunteer at the Free Care Clinic in our County and they had a small tree decorated with different colored condoms! We all thought it was great until one of the Board members saw it and decided it was not appropriate as a Christmas decoration. Now we are back to balls & bows, etc...
boring!
they should get some large Norfork Island pines and keep them up year around--what would it be like tripping over a 4 foot lizard in the middle of the night? gee, I'm not sure I'd want such a pet.
Just think, that family will wake up early on Christmas morn just to find that all those presents are covered with iguana poo...
... which will actually create a fond memory to laugh about someday, I suppose.
So, I guess it's like a Christmas miracluana.
oh, and Hello, Michele sent me.
I think they should buy the iguana its own tree...of course it would be there all of the time...not much of a pet, but then lizard and pet in the same sentence seems a bit odd to me anyway.
That's crazy!! My brother used to have a chameleon who would habg out in the shrubbery outside during the summer, eating any stray fly that came near.
Happy holidays Judy,
I miss coming around here!!
Oh My, thats pretty special lol, No such animals in our snowy canada outside that is, lol, maybe safe indoors though....I just loved th story about the iguana in the xmas tree!!!
Thinking of you as you march toward getting some rest. This has been a tough Kenju family year and I hope 2008 goes a lot better. So, did your son keep the iguana?
It's GODzilla!!!!
Your son was brave to take hold of the tail of an iguana. I would have freaked out!!
I hope your pre-Christmas weekend is going well thus far.
It's almost Christmas!!!!!
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