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NEWSDAY (Melville, New York) 23 August 06 An unmonitored lizard found in Sayville (John Valenti)
It wasn't quite Godzilla.
But agents from the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals got a surprise of potentially monster proportions this week when they trapped a rare and exotic 11/2-foot-long Asiatic water monitor lizard hiding under the backyard deck of a home in Sayville.
The lizard, illegal to own or possess in New York, where it is on the state's "Dangerous Species List," is no more than 4 months old -- and kind of cute. But adult monitor lizards can grow to more than 8 feet long and weigh more than 75 pounds and have been known to attack humans, SCSPCA chief of department Roy Gross said.
"They are considered extremely aggressive, and if it bites a human, it will take flesh," Gross said. "... It not only can consume a pet, it can consume a child. They're extremely, extremely dangerous."
The homeowners, who asked not to be identified, first spotted the juvenile lizard attacking birds in a tree in their backyard, Gross said.
Local police and animal control officers tried several methods to capture the lizard, Gross said. But it escaped. Three .SCSPCA agents finally smoked the lizard out on Monday, using road flares to force it from under the deck before netting it in a big blanket, Gross said.
In the space under the deck, agents found mice and bird carcasses.
The lizard, currently in confinement at the SCSPCA in Smithtown, will eventually be donated to an out-of-state zoo.
Monitor lizards are native to Asia. They feed on birds, mice, snakes and other reptiles and animals. They can live 15 to 20 years, are good swimmers, excellent tree climbers and extremely fast in tracking prey. They can even use their tails as weapons. Just like Godzilla.
"People get these kinds of pets, because they think they're cool," Gross said. "They think they've got to have something bigger and badder than anyone else. Then maybe they get bitten or attacked, and they realize, 'This is dangerous.' Then they let the animal go -- and it winds up in a backyard."
In the past few years, Gross said, SCSPCA agents have confiscated alligators, rattlesnakes, king cobras, leopards, mountain lions and even a black bear in Suffolk. But before Monday they never had seen an Asiatic water monitor lizard.
Anyone with information on the lizard should call the SCSPCA at 631-382-7722. Calls will be kept confidential.
An unmonitored lizard found in Sayville

thanks for that, fantastic! it was so interesting ihad to print it!

Last night when I saw that.. if I hadn't been on the verge of passing out from exhaustion, I would have said something earlier..

It was only 11 1/2".. a small juvenile of 4 months from the admission of the paper.. but god that scared me, as it would anyone else in the area, you gotta wonder if that's intentional.

and 11' Salvator would have to be feeding on pigs to attain such a great size.. and after that, no matter the Temper, I don't know what kind of person would let that go, isn't there an award for the finds of an unusually long lizard like there was for Snakes (Anacondas specifically maybe?) of over 30'
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2.0 Beardie
1.1 Common Boa
1.1 Ackies
0.1 Giant BW Tegu
Thousands of Roaches, T's, and Scorps.
R.I.P. My Beautiful Savannah Monitor.. and my prized Leopard Geckos..

Afraid you've misread the article. It says 1 1/2 feet. The two ones are run together to look like 11..........11/2

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

.... *sigh* I feel like such a dork

*laugh*
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2.0 Beardie
1.1 Common Boa
1.1 Ackies
0.1 Giant BW Tegu
Thousands of Roaches, T's, and Scorps.
R.I.P. My Beautiful Savannah Monitor.. and my prized Leopard Geckos..

when i said it was fantastic I didnt think it was 11.1/2 it wasnt the size i was refering to i was refering to the reference of aggressive behavior.always interresting hear talk like that i love reading about there enoumous power!

the actual article it has a picture of the monitor itself.
Link

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-Marshall
1.1.0 ball pythons
0.0.1 red ackie

Funny the things people are afraid of, isn't it?
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

..."it could consume a child"...so could your dog.
..."like godzilla"...a real edjucated comparison.
...i mean it was just a baby...give me a break...

I thought that was the scale size 11/2 5.5 times normal size. And as for the picture, we don't know how big the guy holding it actually is so it is difficult to gage how big that monster reptile really is. For all we know the guy could be 11/2 too!
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-0-1 Rescued Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-2-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet, Isis
0-0-1 Rescued Fit and Trim Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids