A resident of Providence, Rhode Island was clearing snow from his driveway when he stumbled upon a tegu lizard (Salvator sp.) buried under 20 inches of snow. The New England Wildlife Center shared this remarkable story on their Facebook page.
The man, who remains unidentified, brought the lizard into his home and wrapped it in a t-shirt to warm it up. He then contacted ET reptiles for assistance. Taylor and Emily from ET Reptiles promptly arrived at the man’s home to retrieve the large reptile. They brought it to the wildlife center’s hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
Upon examination, it was discovered that the tegu was weak, underweight, and had suffered frostbite on its tongue due to exposure to extreme weather conditions. The cold temperatures had caused tissue damage and muscle injury due to inadequate circulation and energy.
The wildlife center’s Odd Pet Vet team removed a small portion of dead tissue from the lizard’s tongue and administered steroids to address inflammation and weakness. In a Facebook post, they wrote: “He is now resting comfortably and finally warm, which makes all the difference!”
The center also expressed their gratitude towards Emily and Taylor for acting quickly in rescuing the animal and advocating for responsible reptile ownership. They also highlighted how misunderstood reptiles can be, emphasizing the importance of proper care by informed individuals.
As of now, no one has come forward as the owner of this tegu lizard. If anyone has details about its owner or origin, please contact ET Reptiles at 401-450-0065.
Wow, what an unexpected surprise!
Comment: That’s one way to make shoveling snow more exciting!