THE GAZETTE (Colorado Springs, Colorado) 07 July 06 Caiman puts teeth into guarding pot plants (Megan Rolland)
Colorado Springs police encountered a different type of “guard dog” Thursday keeping watch over a pot plantation in a home’s master bedroom.
A 3-foot-long caiman, a species closely related to the alligator, was found Thursday morning with marijuana plants surrounding the 300-gallon stock tank in which it was kept.
Police went to 4643 Woodsorrel Court in northeast Colorado Springs after the landlord reported that the tenants, whom he had evicted, were trying to steal a refrigerator.
The tenants, Robert and Sandra Hatcher, were arrested on suspicion of growing marijuana. The two also face possible charges of driving under the influence, driving recklessly and felony theft in connection with a previous auto theft.
The spectacled caiman was taken away by Mountain Aire Reptile Rescue and Sanctuary.
Deana Farley, co-owner of the reptile rescue in Castle Rock, said she frequently gets reptiles that are used to guard drugs. Earlier this year, the organization rescued an 11-foot red-tail boa constrictor from a methamphetamine lab in Denver, and it also took a 7-foot python from a house in Colorado Springs. Both of the snakes had to be euthanized because of extensive exposure to drugs.
“Police find them all the time when they are doing stuff like that,” said Noah Mather from Colorado Gators, a tourist attraction and sanctuary near Alamosa.
Neighbors told police they were unaware that they were living next door to a caiman, a dangerous pet known to eat other animals and attack humans.
Mather said that in many ways alligators make better pets than caimans, although alligators get much larger.
“Caiman are more flexible and aggressive,” Mather said, describing alligators as laid back.
Alligators are an endangered species, and it is illegal to own one in the United States. Owning a caiman is legal in Colorado Springs, although an exotic animal license from the humane society is necessary if the caiman is larger than 6 feet long.
The caiman seized Thursday will be monitored for health problems for 60 days at the sanctuary. It could be given up to adoption with the sanctuary’s approval, or to a zoo.
Caimans can grow to be 8 feet and eat mostly fresh fish or chicken. Farley said the animal’s tank was filled with goldfish.
Caiman puts teeth into guarding pot plants