Jurassic Park in Colorado !!!: Kitteh-eating lizard on the prowl

[marmar]

DENVER— A sheriff has warned residents in a tourist town northwest of Colorado Springs that a strong, aggressive 1.75 metre (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 12 kilogram 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.” ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1227637--cat-eating-lizard-named-dino-on-loose-in-colorado-town-police-warn

[WilliamPitt]

1. Boots

waiting to happen.

No one messes with the kittehs.

[freshwest]

4. Yee-sss!

[freshwest]

2. The Libertarian solution would be to call Ted Nugent. I'd support that this time.

Only a matter of time until small children are eaten, since they are much easier prey than dogs and cats.

[Scootaloo]

3. Well, when was it last fed?

Great thing about reptile metabolism is that they can go a long time without food; this dude will probably just spend his "vacation" sunning on a rock. If he does eat, it'll likely be small animals; rats, mice, smaller lizards.

Of course, now that the sheriff is telling people their children and cockapoos might be in danger (not likely; cats and dogs would fight too much to be "worth it&quot , the poor critter's likely to just get shot if someone sees it.

[Scuba]

5. “If it gets hungry enough, we don’t know what it will do.”

Sounds like Sheriff Ensinger failed biology class.

[FSogol]

7. LOL. n/t

[Wait Wut]

6. Someone find this poor thing...

...before some wannabe cowboy kills it.

They're beautiful and fascinating creatures. Not that I approve of keeping them as pets.

[Warpy]

9. They have very irritable dispositions although they do recognize

their keepers and can be tamed enough for their keepers to handle them--carefully.

They're no danger to children except they can inflict painful bites and claw scratches if they're pissed off. They live on bugs and rodents, mostly.

They also prefer water, so my best guess is that they'll find this guy in somebody's swimming pool eventually.

[Wait Wut]

11. A friend of mine had one, though it was just a baby.

Even as a baby it was tough to handle. I was amazed at how incredibly strong it was for his size.

I just want him to be safe. Not his fault some idiot thought he'd make a 'cool' pet.

[randome]

8. Send Anderson Cooper right fucking now!

Or Chuck Norris.

[JHB]

10. Norris. Barehanded. And no camera crew.Winner gets a film contract.

...with Anderson Cooper.

How's Anderson's West Nile accent?