A recently vacated Alameda rental came with a jaw-dropping surprise: a large lizard, roughly seven feet long, left behind inside the home after the tenants moved out. Alameda police responded and, working with animal care specialists, carefully captured the reptile and turned it over to a local reptile facility for evaluation and rehoming.
Alameda police later posted photos that show the animal clinging to the window blinds and said the former tenants had simply left the reptile behind, according to KTVU. Dispatchers contacted animal control, and officers put together a plan to move the animal out of the home safely and get it into expert care.
Officers identified the animal as an ornate Nile monitor, a type of monitor lizard that can reach about seven feet in length and may be aggressive, as reported by Patch. Police warned that monitors have “powerful bites, strong claws, and forceful tails” and stressed that they are not suitable pets for beginners or for children.
Animal Taken To A Specialist
Officers transported the monitor to the East Bay Vivarium, a Berkeley reptile shop that lists boarding and rehoming services on its website. The shop’s public information notes size limits and special procedures for large reptiles, which is why facilities like this are used for animals of this scale instead of a standard shelter setup.
Species Background And Safety
Alameda police said the lizard was an ornate Nile monitor native to parts of West and Middle Africa and emphasized that its size and strength make it a risky choice as a casual pet, according to KTVU. Florida Fish and Wildlife notes that Nile monitors are large, semi-aquatic lizards that have been treated as invasive when released into nonnative habitats, underscoring the risks that come with keeping big exotic reptiles outside of specialized care.
Legal Implications
Willfully abandoning an animal can carry criminal penalties in California. Penal Code §597s makes abandonment of an animal a misdemeanor, according to the Animal Legal & Historical Center, although enforcement decisions depend on the facts of each case. Alameda police did not say whether they plan to pursue the former tenants in connection with this incident.
Who To Call If You Encounter An Exotic Animal
If you run into an aggressive or abandoned exotic animal in Alameda, officials say do not try to handle it yourself. Instead, call Alameda Police dispatch or Animal Control so trained officers can respond. The City of Alameda lists animal control contact numbers and the shelter location (1590 Fortmann Way) on its Animal Services page; for non-emergencies, call Alameda Police at 510-337-8340 and see Alameda Animal Services for details.
