MO Press: Many pleased, many concerned over popular iguana p

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Posted by Desiree on August 27, 2001 at 11:49:53:

(VIA WES PAPINEAU)

August 11, 2001
They came from a fair

By DONNA SYVERTSON of the Missoulian

Many pleased, many concerned over popular iguana prize

A prize at one of the most popular game booths at the Western Montana Fair is a live iguana.

Nothing wrong with that - it's legal. It's just that most people don't know how to care for a live iguana.

Early in the week, the reptiles were being handed out in either a ventilated, plastic sack or a $6 plastic aquarium/carrying case.

Some new owners didn't know what to do with their new pets. They called area pet stores looking for crickets and cockroaches to feed their iguanas, when, in fact, the animals are vegetarians and don't eat bugs. Others, so excited about their new pets, swung them around.

That's when some concerned people called the Missoula County Animal Control Shelter.

"That's not something you do when it's hot," Paula Nelson, supervisor of animal control, said. "I'm not saying people are ignorant. I'm saying it's bad to offer any type of pet as a free giveaway, as a prize, when people don't know how to take care of them."

Todd Keenan, a concession owner for the fair, is having his booth personnel hand out information on how to care for the iguanas.

"Eighty percent of the public don't read it," he conceded.

The popular iguanas, raised on a farm in Louisiana, eat leaf lettuce, apple peelings and bananas, he said.

On Thursday, Keenan said, fairgoers had won 65 iguanas. As for the plastic bags, he said, they are aerated and made to carry iguanas. On top of that, 95 percent of the winners buy the aquarium/carrying case.

"We don't give many away in bags," he said.

He does order more iguanas nearly every day. While the ones he gives away are small, less than a foot from chin to tail tip, they can grow to be 3 to 4 feet long.

He advised new owners to handle the iguanas all the time, "like a cat and a dog." A friend, he said, has one that "is 4 feet long. It hangs on the couch with him."

Ten-year-old Marcus Sickles threw his first ping pong ball underhanded. It landed in a blue cap - and he won an iguana. He and his mother, Lisa, bought a carrying case, just like some he already had at home for his long-tailed lizard and anole, which is similar to a chameleon.

"We live out at Evaro and didn't want ...," his mother started. "We'll go home and put him in a bigger tank."

A name? "I might name him Lucky," Marcus said.

When Sam Christopher, also 10, won his iguana, he quickly found his mom. "I need six dollars," he said.

"He's wanted one his whole life," said Mary Canty as she dug out the money. The family, she added, already has a fish, a dog and two birds. "Now we have an iguana."

Richard Pickering, one of the booth's workers, explained that kids can leave their iguana at the booth and get a special ticket to claim it whenever they are ready to head home. That way, he said, it doesn't have to stay in a cage all day.

Judy Vernier, an animal control officer, advised new iguana owners to handle their pets at least an hour a day. That way, she said, the pets will be safe when they become adults.

The animal control shelter, over the years, has taken in several iguanas deserted by their owners.

"I don't know if (the owners became) tired and turned them loose," Vernier said. "We have been fortunate that Petland in the mall has taken them in, rehabilitated them and found homes for them."

She wonders what will happen with all the new iguanas in Missoula.

"I wouldn't want one as a pet. I like things that give you back affection. Lizards are just a possession," she said. "The people who love them are the ones who spend time with them and know how to take care of them."

Reporter Donna Syvertson can be reached at 523-5361 or at dsyvertson@missoulian.com.

Care tips for iguanas

New owners should provide ultraviolet lighting for 12-14 hours a day, feed the animals daily, dust the food with a vitamin/calcium powder every other feeding and remove food four hours after it is offered to prevent spoilage.

The temperature should be maintained at 85-90 degrees in the day and 65-75 at night. A basking lamp will maintain the temperature at 100 to 105 degrees. Also important is humidity, which should be kept at or near 75 percent.

More suggestions are available in material provided by the fair booth workers.

Many pleased, many concerned over popular iguana p

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: (VIA WES PAPINEAU) : August 11, 2001 : They came from a fair : By DONNA SYVERTSON of the Missoulian : Many pleased, many concerned over popular iguana prize : : A prize at one of the most popular game booths at the Western Montana Fair is a live iguana. : Nothing wrong with that - it's legal. It's just that most people don't know how to care for a live iguana. : Early in the week, the reptiles were being handed out in either a ventilated, plastic sack or a $6 plastic aquarium/carrying case. : Some new owners didn't know what to do with their new pets. They called area pet stores looking for crickets and cockroaches to feed their iguanas, when, in fact, the animals are vegetarians and don't eat bugs. Others, so excited about their new pets, swung them around. : That's when some concerned people called the Missoula County Animal Control Shelter. : "That's not something you do when it's hot," Paula Nelson, supervisor of animal control, said. "I'm not saying people are ignorant. I'm saying it's bad to offer any type of pet as a free giveaway, as a prize, when people don't know how to take care of them." : Todd Keenan, a concession owner for the fair, is having his booth personnel hand out information on how to care for the iguanas. : "Eighty percent of the public don't read it," he conceded. : The popular iguanas, raised on a farm in Louisiana, eat leaf lettuce, apple peelings and bananas, he said. : On Thursday, Keenan said, fairgoers had won 65 iguanas. As for the plastic bags, he said, they are aerated and made to carry iguanas. On top of that, 95 percent of the winners buy the aquarium/carrying case. : "We don't give many away in bags," he said. : He does order more iguanas nearly every day. While the ones he gives away are small, less than a foot from chin to tail tip, they can grow to be 3 to 4 feet long. : He advised new owners to handle the iguanas all the time, "like a cat and a dog." A friend, he said, has one that "is 4 feet long. It hangs on the couch with him." : Ten-year-old Marcus Sickles threw his first ping pong ball underhanded. It landed in a blue cap - and he won an iguana. He and his mother, Lisa, bought a carrying case, just like some he already had at home for his long-tailed lizard and anole, which is similar to a chameleon. : "We live out at Evaro and didn't want ...," his mother started. "We'll go home and put him in a bigger tank." : A name? "I might name him Lucky," Marcus said. : When Sam Christopher, also 10, won his iguana, he quickly found his mom. "I need six dollars," he said. : "He's wanted one his whole life," said Mary Canty as she dug out the money. The family, she added, already has a fish, a dog and two birds. "Now we have an iguana." : Richard Pickering, one of the booth's workers, explained that kids can leave their iguana at the booth and get a special ticket to claim it whenever they are ready to head home. That way, he said, it doesn't have to stay in a cage all day. : Judy Vernier, an animal control officer, advised new iguana owners to handle their pets at least an hour a day. That way, she said, the pets will be safe when they become adults. : The animal control shelter, over the years, has taken in several iguanas deserted by their owners. : "I don't know if (the owners became) tired and turned them loose," Vernier said. "We have been fortunate that Petland in the mall has taken them in, rehabilitated them and found homes for them." : She wonders what will happen with all the new iguanas in Missoula. : "I wouldn't want one as a pet. I like things that give you back affection. Lizards are just a possession," she said. "The people who love them are the ones who spend time with them and know how to take care of them." : : Reporter Donna Syvertson can be reached at 523-5361 or at dsyvertson@missoulian.com. : : Care tips for iguanas : : New owners should provide ultraviolet lighting for 12-14 hours a day, feed the animals daily, dust the food with a vitamin/calcium powder every other feeding and remove food four hours after it is offered to prevent spoilage. : The temperature should be maintained at 85-90 degrees in the day and 65-75 at night. A basking lamp will maintain the temperature at 100 to 105 degrees. Also important is humidity, which should be kept at or near 75 percent. : More suggestions are available in material provided by the fair booth workers.

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