Press: Firefighters Pull Runaway Reptile From Tree

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Posted by Wes von Papine�u on April 27, 2001 at 06:38:07:

Firefighter Rich Kerr rescues "Baby" the iguana.

LONDON FREE PRESS (Ontario) 27 April 01 Bringing Down Baby; Firefighters Pull Runaway Reptile From Tree (Jennifer O'brien)
It was like your typical cat-in-tree scenario, except it wasn't a cat. It was an a metre-long iguana named Baby.
London firefighters yesterday responded to a north Richmond Street apartment building, where they rescued a runaway lizard that had shimmied about 16 metres up a tree.
It took two firetrucks and the station's highest ladder to retrieve the seven-year-old iguana. Baby had been up the tree nearly 20 hours after breaking its leash on a walk.
The iguana was spooked by low-flying birds, its owner David Gruden said.
"I was pretty nervous," said firefighter Rich Kerr, who retrieved the lizard from the tree.
"I've never actually touched a live iguana before."
The animal care and control officer who briefed Kerr before his climb didn't make it any easier.
"She said to me, 'It will whip you with its tail, its teeth are very sharp and its claws are long and sharp,' " he said.
Luckily, Kerr only received a threatening hiss from Baby before he threw a blanket over the lizard's head to calm it.
With co-worker Cedo Ivanisevic behind him, Kerr scooped Baby up by the belly and brought the lizard to its owner's girlfriend waiting below.
"I was so happy to see him . . . I'm still high from the excitement," said Michelle Chouinard.
She had been keeping watch over Babe since early morning when Gruden left for work after spending the night under the tree. "I just kept saying, 'Come on, Babe, I got some pizza for you,' " Gruden said.
The assignment gave firefighters a chance to practise an aerial rescue using a 33-metre ladder, Kerr said.
Contrary to popular belief, firefighters don't often save cats from trees, he said.
"Cats will eventually jump out of a tree, but I guess none of us knew what an iguana would do."

Michelle Chouinard holds her iguana.

Press: Firefighters Pull Runaway Reptile From Tree

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Re: Press: Firefighters Pull Runaway Reptile From Tree m.b.komor 05/11/01 (0)
i think that ig's bigger than ONE meter! i LIKE happy stories! ...nm iZ's mom, who'd be dialing 911 as well .... *grin* 04/27/01 (0)
Re: Great (happy ending) story! nm Sue2 04/27/01 (0)

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: Firefighter Rich Kerr rescues "Baby" the iguana. : LONDON FREE PRESS (Ontario) 27 April 01 Bringing Down Baby; Firefighters Pull Runaway Reptile From Tree (Jennifer O'brien) : It was like your typical cat-in-tree scenario, except it wasn't a cat. It was an a metre-long iguana named Baby. : London firefighters yesterday responded to a north Richmond Street apartment building, where they rescued a runaway lizard that had shimmied about 16 metres up a tree. : It took two firetrucks and the station's highest ladder to retrieve the seven-year-old iguana. Baby had been up the tree nearly 20 hours after breaking its leash on a walk. : The iguana was spooked by low-flying birds, its owner David Gruden said. : "I was pretty nervous," said firefighter Rich Kerr, who retrieved the lizard from the tree. : "I've never actually touched a live iguana before." : The animal care and control officer who briefed Kerr before his climb didn't make it any easier. : "She said to me, 'It will whip you with its tail, its teeth are very sharp and its claws are long and sharp,' " he said. : Luckily, Kerr only received a threatening hiss from Baby before he threw a blanket over the lizard's head to calm it. : With co-worker Cedo Ivanisevic behind him, Kerr scooped Baby up by the belly and brought the lizard to its owner's girlfriend waiting below. : "I was so happy to see him . . . I'm still high from the excitement," said Michelle Chouinard. : She had been keeping watch over Babe since early morning when Gruden left for work after spending the night under the tree. "I just kept saying, 'Come on, Babe, I got some pizza for you,' " Gruden said. : The assignment gave firefighters a chance to practise an aerial rescue using a 33-metre ladder, Kerr said. : Contrary to popular belief, firefighters don't often save cats from trees, he said. : "Cats will eventually jump out of a tree, but I guess none of us knew what an iguana would do." : Michelle Chouinard holds her iguana. : <img src = "http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSWeirdNewsImages01/0426_london.jpg">

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