Press Item: Wayward iguana captured, grounded (IL)

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Posted by Desiree on July 16, 2001 at 00:06:17:

Wayward iguana captured, grounded
By Joe Hosey
STAFF WRITER

JOLIET � Draco the iguana ended his five-day stay in a West Acres Road tree Friday when he was doused with a hose and netted by his owner.

"He was down on a lower branch and Mark said, 'I think I can get him,'" Carol Denewellis said shortly after her son, Mark Denewellis, did indeed get the four-foot-long iguana out of the tree in front of his house.

Draco the iguana lives with Mark Denewellis, but is actually his daughter Melissa's pet.

Melissa and her sister, Sarah, were playing with Draco in the front yard Monday when he slipped his leash and scrambled up the tree � climbing as high as 50 feet off the ground. And once he was up there, the iguana showed no desire to come back down.

Joliet Fire Chief Joseph Drick learned of the refugee reptile and determined his department could be of assistance � once a special ladder tower truck returned from Elmhurst where it was being outfitted with additional equipment.

But Draco meandered down to a lower branch hanging over West Acres Road Friday and Mark Denewellis took the opportunity to capture him, turning a hose on the lizard.

The iguana apparently enjoyed the water � leading Mark Denewellis to believe he was thirsty. Denewellis then climbed about 20 feet up a ladder leaned against the tree and caught Draco in a fishing net.

"I basically had to pry him off (the tree)," Denewellis said. "He didn't even move when I went up."

While Draco did not care for being trapped in the fishing net, he did appear ready to come back home after his brief "taste of freedom," as Denewellis put it.

Shortly after he was returned to earth, he hung from Melissa's shoulder and then was put on the kitchen floor for a meal of mozzarella cheese.

"He'll eat that right out of your hand," Carol Denewellis said of the mozzarella. And Melissa proved the same went for American cheese when she treated Draco to a slice.

But for all the cheese and special care Draco received after his rescue, he has not been completely forgiven for running away.

"She (Melissa) said he's grounded," Mark Denewellis said. Contact Joe Hosey at (815) 729-6054 or via e-mail at jhosey@scn1.com.

07/14/01

Wayward iguana captured, grounded

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mozzarella cheese?? ::shudder bob of disgust:: n/m IC 07/16/01 (0)

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: Wayward iguana captured, grounded : By Joe Hosey : STAFF WRITER : JOLIET � Draco the iguana ended his five-day stay in a West Acres Road tree Friday when he was doused with a hose and netted by his owner. : "He was down on a lower branch and Mark said, 'I think I can get him,'" Carol Denewellis said shortly after her son, Mark Denewellis, did indeed get the four-foot-long iguana out of the tree in front of his house. : Draco the iguana lives with Mark Denewellis, but is actually his daughter Melissa's pet. : Melissa and her sister, Sarah, were playing with Draco in the front yard Monday when he slipped his leash and scrambled up the tree � climbing as high as 50 feet off the ground. And once he was up there, the iguana showed no desire to come back down. : Joliet Fire Chief Joseph Drick learned of the refugee reptile and determined his department could be of assistance � once a special ladder tower truck returned from Elmhurst where it was being outfitted with additional equipment. : But Draco meandered down to a lower branch hanging over West Acres Road Friday and Mark Denewellis took the opportunity to capture him, turning a hose on the lizard. : The iguana apparently enjoyed the water � leading Mark Denewellis to believe he was thirsty. Denewellis then climbed about 20 feet up a ladder leaned against the tree and caught Draco in a fishing net. : "I basically had to pry him off (the tree)," Denewellis said. "He didn't even move when I went up." : While Draco did not care for being trapped in the fishing net, he did appear ready to come back home after his brief "taste of freedom," as Denewellis put it. : Shortly after he was returned to earth, he hung from Melissa's shoulder and then was put on the kitchen floor for a meal of mozzarella cheese. : "He'll eat that right out of your hand," Carol Denewellis said of the mozzarella. And Melissa proved the same went for American cheese when she treated Draco to a slice. : But for all the cheese and special care Draco received after his rescue, he has not been completely forgiven for running away. : "She (Melissa) said he's grounded," Mark Denewellis said. Contact Joe Hosey at (815) 729-6054 or via e-mail at jhosey@scn1.com. : : 07/14/01

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