What do you say to a bearded dragon?
Conservation officer Sgt. Scott Norris received a call Monday from someone at a Cowichan Valley logging contractor, saying theyB次元官网网址檇 found a bearded dragon lizard on a logging road.
Driving along a logging road, B次元官网网址渉e realized there was a bearded dragon on the side of the road there sunning itself. He stopped, and phoned us. He was able to pick it up, it was pretty tame.
B次元官网网址淪o, I went out and met him and picked it up from him. It appears as through itB次元官网网址檚 an unwanted pet that someone has abandoned,B次元官网网址� Norris said Wednesday afternoon.
HeB次元官网网址檚 tried to find out who might own it, if itB次元官网网址檚 lost, but so far without success.
B次元官网网址淚 reached out to the SPCA and theyB次元官网网址檝e heard nothing. I also reached out to a veterinarian in Maple Ridge who does a lot of our animal rescue stuff when it comes to alien or non-native species. HeB次元官网网址檚 got quite a speciality in that stuff. He sent out word to reptile networks heB次元官网网址檚 got yesterday to find out if anybodyB次元官网网址檚 heard of a bearded dragon missing in the Duncan area. No oneB次元官网网址檚 heard back to him as of today.B次元官网网址�
Bearded dragon lizards are an exotic species valued in the pet trade and are not native to British Columbia.
B次元官网网址淚t appears that itB次元官网网址檚 likely an unwanted pet that someoneB次元官网网址檚 dumped off, which would be a really sad thing for someone to do. Ultimately that creature would suffer and die if it hadnB次元官网网址檛 been picked up fairly soon,B次元官网网址� Norris said.
B次元官网网址淗e happened to be baking in the open sun and getting warm when they found him but, once the weather starts turning and getting cooler, heB次元官网网址檚 not going to survive because those guys are a desert species that need warm dry conditions. He would have died for sure. ThatB次元官网网址檚 one aspect of this,B次元官网网址� Norris said, adding, B次元官网网址淭he other aspect is you should never really introduce non-native species out into the wild.B次元官网网址�
The as-yet-unnamed lizard is probably a foot and a half long, and has been staying with Norris and his family.
B次元官网网址淎t this point right now, weB次元官网网址檙e hoping to find a good home for him. IB次元官网网址檓 getting cornered into keeping him myself but if we can find a good loving home, thatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檇 hope for.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 very active. HeB次元官网网址檚 very friendly. He likes human contact. Even the logging contractor said that when he got out of his truck, he came running over to him. HeB次元官网网址檚 used to people.
B次元官网网址淢y son picks him up and he right away came to my son and crawled up onto my sonB次元官网网址檚 shoulder. HeB次元官网网址檚 a friendly little guy. IB次元官网网址檝e got him for now. WeB次元官网网址檙e taking care of him as best we can. But, thatB次元官网网址檚 where weB次元官网网址檙e at. ItB次元官网网址檚 a really unfortunate situation but thankfully he was found, and seems to be in good shape, and we can find a good home for him.B次元官网网址�
Norris also wants to know how the lizard got there.
B次元官网网址淎t the end of the day, weB次元官网网址檇 like to hear if someone knows who dumped it off in the bush. They can stay anonymous if they want to. WeB次元官网网址檇 like to follow up with those [owners] because there are obviously better ways of getting rid of unwanted pets rather than dumping them in the forest,B次元官网网址� he said.
Contact the Conservation Officer Service toll free RAPP line at 1 877-952-7277 if you have information on the person who released this animal, or know if it was unintentionally lost.
