PRess Item: Animal control attempts tree-top rescue (Tenn.)

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Posted by Desiree on June 15, 2001 at 09:22:04:

Animal control attempts tree-top rescue
2001-06-14
by Iva Butler
of The Daily Times Staff

A five-foot-long iguana was resting 60 feet up on a limb in a poplar tree Wednesday after resisting ``rescue'' by animal control authorities.

The lizard's misadventure started near the home of Freda and Bill Wilson in the Ridgewood subdivision off Mentor Road.

When Wilson got home Tuesday he spotted the green iguana in the back yard near the family's Siamese cat, Tommy, which was resting on a concrete pad.

He went to investigate; and the iguana fled into the nearby woods. He couldn't find the animal until he and wife, Freda, looked up in the trees.

Animal control officers were called, but the lizard was 60 feet up in an 80-foot poplar, too high to be removed.

A day later, Freda Wilson planned to put out a tub of water to try and lure the iguana from its lofty perch.

An avid gardener, Freda said she would have had a heart attack if she had come upon the huge lizard in her flower beds.

Iguanas eat leaves, flowers, fruits, vegetables and insects. There is evidence in the mulch around Freda's flowers and ornamentals that something has been digging.

``Bill thinks it was raccoons, but I think it was the iguana,'' she said.

Late Wednesday the lizard was stretched out on a limb with his three-foot-long tail hanging off, moving a little now and then.

He looked gray in color, but bright green iguanas may not look so bright if sitting in a dull green tree on a dark brown branch or on dappled sunshine.

The owner of the iguana is not known.

Maryville Animal Control Officer Eddie King said anyone who has lost an iguana should contact the Wilsons or him at 681-2241

Animal control attempts tree-top rescue

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: Animal control attempts tree-top rescue : 2001-06-14 : by Iva Butler : of The Daily Times Staff : A five-foot-long iguana was resting 60 feet up on a limb in a poplar tree Wednesday after resisting ``rescue'' by animal control authorities. : The lizard's misadventure started near the home of Freda and Bill Wilson in the Ridgewood subdivision off Mentor Road. : When Wilson got home Tuesday he spotted the green iguana in the back yard near the family's Siamese cat, Tommy, which was resting on a concrete pad. : He went to investigate; and the iguana fled into the nearby woods. He couldn't find the animal until he and wife, Freda, looked up in the trees. : Animal control officers were called, but the lizard was 60 feet up in an 80-foot poplar, too high to be removed. : A day later, Freda Wilson planned to put out a tub of water to try and lure the iguana from its lofty perch. : An avid gardener, Freda said she would have had a heart attack if she had come upon the huge lizard in her flower beds. : Iguanas eat leaves, flowers, fruits, vegetables and insects. There is evidence in the mulch around Freda's flowers and ornamentals that something has been digging. : ``Bill thinks it was raccoons, but I think it was the iguana,'' she said. : Late Wednesday the lizard was stretched out on a limb with his three-foot-long tail hanging off, moving a little now and then. : He looked gray in color, but bright green iguanas may not look so bright if sitting in a dull green tree on a dark brown branch or on dappled sunshine. : The owner of the iguana is not known. : Maryville Animal Control Officer Eddie King said anyone who has lost an iguana should contact the Wilsons or him at 681-2241

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