Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just heard a facinating story. It seems a lizard about 1-1/2 feet long has been spotted in backyards and basking by a creek near my house. From the description it sounds like someones Dumeril's monitor has gotten loose or turned loose.
One lady told me it was digging in her garden and eating worms. She said it was almost all black with a bright red head.
She's claimed to have seen it 4 times in the past 2 weeks.
One of the other nighboors said he say it at the creek eating crawfish. I guess he's making the best of his habitat.
Now, how can I catch it before some hawk, bobcat or racoon has it for dinner?

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

Not sure which part of the US you are in, but adult male broad-headed skinks (a native species) have red heads. They get to about a foot in length (people always add at least 50% to the length of sighted reptiles). The catching crayfish bit is probably someone's imagination: they see one near water and guess the rest.

Dumerils don't retain the orange head for very long, from what I've heard.

This little guy is way less than a foot and has already lost most of the orange.

Well, I'm in Alabama,not all that familar with dumerils, just the pics I've seen with black bodies and red heads.
I got a call from one of the ladies at the bank I do bussiness with and her husband took a picture of it today. When they get it developed I'll know more, maybe not. lol
Maybe I just got too excited about hunting down a monitor this close to home. lol

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

regardless of what it turns out to be, post the photo here anyway