Latest news with #RainforestReptileShows
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Wayward Webster lizard captured after weekslong search
A homecoming in Webster on Monday after a wayward lizard was finally found by wildlife experts. 'Goose,' a missing water monitor lizard was captured a few days ago when authorities got a call from a resident walking through Douglas State Forest. The resident spotted the five-foot-long reptile and snapped a photo of him. An animal rescue group raced to the scene, setting up baited traps with hard-boiled eggs, raw chicken, and other treats. Naturally, Goose couldn't resist and wandered into the trap. He was captured and reported to be in good health, thus ending the Goose chase. Goose is now in the custody of the Rainforest Reptile Shows. He'll be heading to the vet for a full exam and checkup on Tuesday. 'He's oh-so curious and starting to feel more comfortable around people again,' the reptile rescue business said. 'We're excited to see his progress and share it with everyone!' Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
4 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Webster, Massachusetts police to reveal details about capture of escaped 5-foot-long lizard after 2-week search
New details are expected to be revealed Monday about the capture of Goose, the 5-foot-long water monitor lizard who escaped a home in Webster, Massachusetts two weeks ago. Webster police will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. You can watch it live on CBS News Boston in the video above. The lizard became a local sensation as it wandered from town-to-town on a two week odyssey around central Massachusetts and Connecticut. He now has a new home at Rainforest Reptile Shows Oasis, a non-profit animal sanctuary. Goose was being kept illegally as a pet at a home in Webster before he leapt out of a second-floor window on Friday, July 18 while someone was housesitting. The Massachusetts Environmental Police said that the owners didn't have a permit for the lizard. It was first spotted a week later, on July 25, about five miles away in Thompson, Connecticut. Goose walked away and wasn't seen again until July 30 in Douglas, Massachusetts, about 13 miles north of Thompson. He was finally captured on Saturday, according to the Webster Police Department, but details of who spotted Goose and how he was taken in and where have not been revealed yet. "We are thrilled to have been a part of a such a great group to give Goose a chance on thriving," Rainforest Reptile Shows said in a statement. Water monitor lizards are not typically dangerous to humans, dogs, or cats and they like to climb trees. There were no reports of any dangerous interactions with Goose while he was on the run. Rainforest Reptile Shows said it will post updates about Goose on Facebook.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
In custody: Webster PD says 5-foot water monitor has been captured
After two weeks on the run, the elusive water monitor Goose is in custody. About 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, Webster police posted on social media: "Goose has been captured! More to follow." The 5-foot reptile, the pet of a Webster resident, was reported missing July 18, a day after he was last seen by his owner. The initial search came up empty, although the disappearance became the talk of the town and the subject of social media humor. There have been countless doctored photos of Goose at local restaurants and landmarks. A T-shirt with the words "Goose is on the loose" is a popular item. The Webster animal control officer has said locating Goose would be difficult, with it likely in a tree or body of water. It was unlikely to survive the winter. There was a sighting in Thompson, Connecticut, and, on Wednesday, July 30, in Douglas. A resident took a photograph of the lizard, which was confirmed to be Goose by the Massachusetts Environmental Police. The two-week search for Goose was aided by workers from Rainforest Reptile Shows, a rescue and education organization based in Beverly. In a social media post Saturday evening, the organization said Goose would be staying at its sanctuary. "Goose will now begin a new chapter at RRS Oasis, our nonprofit animal sanctuary, where he will receive expert care and a specially designed permanent habitat," Rainforest Reptile wrote. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: In custody: Webster PD says 5-foot water monitor has been captured Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
6 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Goose, the wandering water monitor lizard, has been captured
After two weeks of wandering around Massachusetts and Connecticut, Goose, the escaped water monitor lizard has been captured, the Webster Police Department announced. Following his capture, Goose will be relocated to a nonprofit animal sanctuary. The 5-foot-long lizard was being kept as a pet in Webster, Massachusetts, when he crawled out of a second-floor window on July 18. He was spotted a week later on July 25 in Thompson, Connecticut, about five miles south of Webster. At that time, Webster Police warned that the animal was owned illegally and that if it was spotted, it should not be approached. The department also said it was working with reptile specialists, Rainforest Reptile Shows, to find Goose. Goose's latest appearance was on Wednesday, July 30, in Douglas, Massachusetts, according to Massachusetts Environmental Police. Douglas is about 13 miles north of Thompson. It's eight miles east of Webster. Rainforest Reptile Shows announced on its Facebook page that Goose will now live at RRS Oasis, a nonprofit animal sanctuary. The organization said Goose would have expert care and live in a specially designed habitat. "We would like to thank the Massachusetts Environmental Police, Webster Police Department ... and Douglas Police Department. Their incredible teamwork and dedication ensured Goose's safe capture - and we couldn't be more grateful. We are thrilled to have been a part of a such a great group to give Goose a chance on thriving," Rainforest Reptile Shows said in a statement. The organization said it will have updates about Goose on its Facebook page.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Venomous snake found in box of grocery store bananas
An "unwanted hitchhiker" was found in a box of bananas at a New Hampshire grocery store on Friday, according to Rainforest Reptile Shows. A store employee at Market Basket in Manchester, New Hampshire, discovered the reptile in a shipment of bananas, according to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division. A conservation officer responded to the employee's call and the 18-inch snake was delivered to Rainforest Reptile Shows, an education company that hosts interactive programs and cares for about 300 reptiles through its nonprofit RRS Oasis. Mack Ralbovsky, vice president of Rainforest Reptile Shows, told ABC News he wasn't surprised the snake had slipped inside a box of bananas. 'We have been dealing with these kinds of situations for over 25 years now,' Ralbovsky said. 'We probably get a call three to four times a year for something similar.' NH Fish and Game identified the reptile as an Ornate Cat-eyed snake, which is native to Ecuador. The snake is mildly venomous and primarily eats amphibians and lizards, according to Ralbovsky. Grocery shoppers were not pleased to hear of a reptile mingling with their produce. One shopper told local ABC affiliate WMUR-TV, 'That does not look like a friendly fella, that's for sure.' Another said, 'I have two snakes at home, that's enough for me.' MORE: Trader Joe's raises banana prices less than a nickel but drops prices on other produce, various products Ralbovsky said any animal that sneaks into produce boxes is "just trying to find a place to hide from predators." 'There's nothing we can really do to prevent this. [Animals] use produce or crops, things that we eat, to hide,' Ralbovsky said. Rainforest Reptile Shows frequently works with law enforcement agencies on cases that involve 'illegally owned pets that were confiscated, neglected or abused or unwanted pets,' according to its Facebook page. As for the newest resident, the company said the snake is currently housed in a temporary habitat and will 'remain forever with us or go to an accredited zoo or aquarium.' The snake, which Ralbovsky said 'went on the experience of a lifetime,' is adapting well to its temporary habitat, but the company plans to upgrade its living situation by including specialized food and habitat modifications to replicate its native environment. Ralbovsky said Rainforest Reptile Shows will give people an opportunity to name this famous serpent on social media. Rainforest Reptile Shows said those who are interested in supporting "the creation of a naturalistic habitat and provide specialized food" via donations can visit its Facebook page for details. Venomous snake found in box of grocery store bananas originally appeared on
