SEATTLE TIMES (Washington) 28 February 05 Reports of reptile on loose unnerve Medina residents (Warren Cornwall)
Usually the only sightings of large, toothy reptiles in Medina and Hunts Point involve alligator handbags.
Now a live one is causing a stir in the toney Eastside enclaves. It appears to have made a home in Lake Washington inlets that border the towns.
Beware a caiman or some other large reptile spotted around Cozy Cove and Fairweather Bay, the Medina Police Department warned residents in a Friday e-mail. The department reported sightings, including one person who saw it lingering in the reeds at the back of the bay.
"My daughter was a bit upset," said Jan Peters, whose back yard runs up to Fairweather Bay. "She loves to go swimming, and of course she wants to make sure somebody catches it before she goes swimming."
If the sighting proves correct, it could be a caiman, which can grow to 7 feet long and usually makes its home much farther south, in the marshes and rivers of Latin American, said Dana Payne, a curator and reptile specialist at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo.
Or it might be an American alligator, which can frequently reach 9 to 10 feet in length and hails from the Southeast, said Payne, who fielded a call from the Medina Police Department last week.
The toothy critters have made occasional appearances in Washington waters, probably courtesy of pet owners who set them loose. Animal-control officers hauled a caiman out of Cottage Lake near Woodinville in 1992.
Two caimans were caught napping on a beach at Seattle's Green Lake in 1986, more than a month after rumors first left waders wary, and they sparked gator jokes, recipes and even a naming contest.
Medina police, however, showed little humor in the announcement, which warned people not to approach or try to catch the animal, which could be especially dangerous to children.
Perhaps the biggest danger is to the cold-blooded animal, which wouldn't fare well in chilly weather, said Payne. The reptiles will generally try to avoid people unless cornered or grabbed.
"If a child ran up to it, it could lacerate a child pretty good," he said.
It's not clear what kind of reptile it is, or how large it is.
Caimans are more sensitive to the cold and wouldn't survive as long, but they also are more aggressive than the bigger, more cold-tolerant alligators, said Payne.
The discovery comes as state lawmakers consider a ban on owning toothy exotic animals like alligators, venomous snakes and lions, partly to address problems such as abandoned or escaped animals.
"The fact of the matter is these dangerous animals will never be domesticated," said Rep. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, who has tried unsuccessfully to get the bill approved the past four legislative sessions.
Jon Allen, a rural Pierce County man who specializes in rescuing reptiles from their overwhelmed owners, said he has gotten two or three calls this year to pick up an alligator. In 2003, he took custody of a 6-foot gator living in someone's garage.
Allen, though, is among those who oppose the legislation, as does the Pacific Northwest Herpetological Society, a nonprofit group of reptile owners. Shari Anderson, a member of the society's board, says it would penalize responsible animal owners for the sins of a few and also could be expanded to cover other, more popular animals.
"From our viewpoint it all comes down to irresponsible ownership. The vast majority of people have made a lifelong commitment to care for these animals," Anderson said.
Peters, meanwhile, said she isn't overly concerned about the sighting. But just in case, she plans to keep an eye on her Wheaton terrier, Molly Brown.
Reports of reptile on loose unnerve Medina residents
