FL Press:4-foot lizard ties up traffic in West Boca

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Posted by Desiree on October 11, 2001 at 22:09:54:

PHOTO:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-1011lizard.photo?coll=sfla%2Dnews%2Dpalm

Plight of the iguana: 4-foot lizard ties up traffic in West Boca

By Kevin Krause
Staff Writer
Posted October 11 2001

WEST BOCA � The call came in to the fire department shortly before noon Wednesday: A 7-foot lizard was blocking traffic at a busy intersection.

The dispatcher paused for a second. "Did you say lizard?"

Minutes later, firefighters were chasing a swift-moving iguana across six lanes of traffic on Lyons Road. Motorists stopped at a red light gestured wildly toward a bank on the corner.

The iguana, which turned out to be about 4 feet long, had already dodged dozens of cars zipping through Glades and Lyons roads as it sauntered north across the street.

"He was just basking in the middle of the road," Firefighter Rob Cohen said.

Cohen and Battalion Chief Ron Beesley finally cornered the iguana behind some bushes in front of the Wachovia Bank at the northwest corner of the intersection around 12:30 p.m.

Cohen scooped up the 25-pound iguana in a fish landing net donated by a concerned passer-by.

The lizard, thought to be about 10 years old, was wrapped in a towel and given to a Deerfield Beach man who stopped to investigate the commotion.

Louis Tomasiello, who has two other pet iguanas, said he would give it a new home.

"They make awesome pets," said Tomasiello, who works as a pressure cleaner. "You can put a leash on them and walk them around."

The iguana was first spotted walking north across Glades Road. A county fire-rescue truck nearly ran over it while responding to the call.

Some people stopped to help.

"There were four or five cars backed up. I was worried because traffic was still moving and it was still walking," said Ben Snow, a Motorola worker who happened to be driving by at the time.

The iguana initially ended up underneath a van parked behind the Washington Mutual Bank at the northeast corner of the intersection.

As more firefighters arrived, they and several sheriff's deputies brainstormed about what to do.

The county's Animal Care and Control department couldn't come out because the iguana wasn't injured, and a trapper was asking $190 for the job, fire-rescue officials said.

So they decided to handle it themselves.

Flushed from its hiding spot, the iguana darted through some bushes, down a sidewalk on Glades Road and across Lyons Road before anyone could react.

Carolann Earl, a volunteer at the Fort Lauderdale Wildlife Center, was in hot pursuit with her fishing net.

Cohen, who suited up with gloves for the task, took the net and chased the iguana with Beesley on the opposite side.

Finally, Cohen managed to coax it into the net as bystanders cheered.

"I am so happy," Earl said. "I watched in horror for five minutes as the light was changing.

"It was nerve-racking."

Kevin Krause can be reached at kkrause@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6604.

4-foot lizard ties up traffic in West Boca

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: PHOTO: : http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-1011lizard.photo?coll=sfla%2Dnews%2Dpalm : Plight of the iguana: 4-foot lizard ties up traffic in West Boca : By Kevin Krause : Staff Writer : Posted October 11 2001 : WEST BOCA � The call came in to the fire department shortly before noon Wednesday: A 7-foot lizard was blocking traffic at a busy intersection. : The dispatcher paused for a second. "Did you say lizard?" : : Minutes later, firefighters were chasing a swift-moving iguana across six lanes of traffic on Lyons Road. Motorists stopped at a red light gestured wildly toward a bank on the corner. : The iguana, which turned out to be about 4 feet long, had already dodged dozens of cars zipping through Glades and Lyons roads as it sauntered north across the street. : "He was just basking in the middle of the road," Firefighter Rob Cohen said. : Cohen and Battalion Chief Ron Beesley finally cornered the iguana behind some bushes in front of the Wachovia Bank at the northwest corner of the intersection around 12:30 p.m. : Cohen scooped up the 25-pound iguana in a fish landing net donated by a concerned passer-by. : The lizard, thought to be about 10 years old, was wrapped in a towel and given to a Deerfield Beach man who stopped to investigate the commotion. : Louis Tomasiello, who has two other pet iguanas, said he would give it a new home. : "They make awesome pets," said Tomasiello, who works as a pressure cleaner. "You can put a leash on them and walk them around." : The iguana was first spotted walking north across Glades Road. A county fire-rescue truck nearly ran over it while responding to the call. : Some people stopped to help. : "There were four or five cars backed up. I was worried because traffic was still moving and it was still walking," said Ben Snow, a Motorola worker who happened to be driving by at the time. : The iguana initially ended up underneath a van parked behind the Washington Mutual Bank at the northeast corner of the intersection. : As more firefighters arrived, they and several sheriff's deputies brainstormed about what to do. : The county's Animal Care and Control department couldn't come out because the iguana wasn't injured, and a trapper was asking $190 for the job, fire-rescue officials said. : So they decided to handle it themselves. : Flushed from its hiding spot, the iguana darted through some bushes, down a sidewalk on Glades Road and across Lyons Road before anyone could react. : Carolann Earl, a volunteer at the Fort Lauderdale Wildlife Center, was in hot pursuit with her fishing net. : Cohen, who suited up with gloves for the task, took the net and chased the iguana with Beesley on the opposite side. : Finally, Cohen managed to coax it into the net as bystanders cheered. : "I am so happy," Earl said. "I watched in horror for five minutes as the light was changing. : "It was nerve-racking." : Kevin Krause can be reached at kkrause@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6604.

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