A 5-foot-long water monitor lizard escaped from a home on Blueberry Lane in Webster, Massachusetts, after jumping out of a second-floor window when a house sitter opened it. A neighbor said, "It's crazy, like I can't even put my head to it, it's scary." According to CBS News Boston, Webster Police Chief Michael Shaw said, "This is a first in my 29 years in law enforcement." Drones were used to search for the lizard, but it has not been found.
A water monitor lizard escaped from a home in Massachusetts, and authorities are warning people not to approach it. A neighbor said, "Me and my friends, we had to help them find one before." Police Chief Shaw said he first thought the report was about a person checking water meters. He told NBC10 Boston, "They're not inherently dangerous to people, they won't attack you, but like any other animal, if you approach it and try to corral it, it could get defensive, and they can bite." The lizard was brought from New Hampshire, and owning one without a permit is illegal in Massachusetts. Environmental police are investigating and may move the lizard to a rescue center if it is found.
Residents in the area remain concerned for their safety and the safety of their pets. "I just think it's crazy that's all and I'm not walking in the woods," said neighbor Ann Annese to CBS News Boston. People in the community are staying alert, checking trees and nearby water sources where the monitor lizard may be hiding.
