THE TRIBUNE (San Luis Obispo, California) 29 May 05 A loveable lizard - Zilla might look scary, but his owner says the worst he might do is eat in your garden (Lindsay Christians)
A 4-foot lizard is wandering the streets of Los Osos, but not to worry -- the worst the prehistoric-looking beast might do is swat its tail at you or munch on your garden plants.
Charlene Bottom and her husband were enjoying the sunny weekend weather at their Los Osos home last week when Zilla, their iguana, hopped down from his perch in a nearby tree.
"We came in for a few minutes," Bottom said. "When we came back out, he was gone."
They've looked in surrounding trees and yards, but Zilla is still missing.
Bottom is concerned that there are enough green plants and bugs in Los Osos to keep her pet lost long after hunger would bring him home.
Zilla has been a part of their family for about three-and-a-half years, Bottom said.
He's about 4 years old and was originally owned by a friend.
Iguanas are mostly vegetarians with the exception of some bugs and mealworms, which make Zilla sick, though he loves them anyway.
Bottom's son, Sonny, 7, gave Zilla the verdant name of Forest when Sonny was 4 years old. He's recently decided to change it to Zilla, as in "Godzilla."
"As they get older, they lose their green color," Bottom said. "He's more a brownish-yellow green now."
Zilla is fond of trees, climbing to the top to get the most heat.
The last time the slippery iguana went missing, his family spotted him at the top of a very tall tree -- so tall, Bottom said, they had to rent a ladder to get him down.
"He was leaning back as far as he could, swatting me with his tail," Bottom said of the rescue.
Zilla won't bite, but he might approach a person if he's hungry enough, Bottom said.
"He'd be noticeable out in the open and scary looking," she said, "but he's not mean. He's pretty friendly."
Bottom has posted signs at local pet stores, hoping that if someone finds Zilla the first place they'll go will be to find out what to feed him.
"We've been looking every day," Bottom said. "We just want him home."
If you find Zilla the missing iguana
Charlene and Branten Bottom live at Santa Ysabel Avenue and 13th Street in Los Osos. The iguana, which is 4 feet long and brownish-yellow, goes by the name Zilla. If you spot him, call the Bottoms at 528-4025.
A loveable lizard - Zilla might look scary, but his owner says the worst he might do is eat in your