Supervisor Spots Large Lizard
Ken Rogers was surprised last Thursday when he spotted this large lizard crossing County Road 223. He was able to snap a quick picture before it disappeared into the woods. A MDWFP biologist said it is likely an iguana purchased as a pet that was either released or escaped.
WATER VALLEY – If Ken Rogers had not been able to snap a quick picture last Thursday, he may have had a hard time convincing folks of an unusual critter crossing the road. The sighting occurred around noon when he was driving on County Road 223, a couple miles outside of Water Valley. Rogers reported he first noticed something in the road and he thought it was just another smashed animal, likely road kill.
“But that is when it jumped up and ran off,” Rogers said. “It was a large lizard.” Rogers, who serves as county supervisor in District 2, decided to stop and investigate. He got out of his truck, but left the door open just in case, and eased to the edge of the road and took a picture with his phone. He estimated the critter was around three feet long.
The sighting was several miles outside of Water Valley on what is also called the old Doke French Road, and nobody else has come forward with a similar sighting. Rogers said the sighting was about a half-mile from the Doke French place.
Sheriff Lance Humphreys also said his department has not received any calls about this lizard.
After looking at the picture, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks biologist Ricky Flynt said the markings along the tail are very characteristic of one of the iguana species commonly sold as pets.
“My guess is it is a Green Iguana,” Flynt said. “Probably an escape or an intentional release,” he added. Flynt cautioned that it is illegal for anyone to release non-native animals into the wild.
Flynt speculated that the lizard will probably not survive the winter.
“I’m not sure if they are smart enough to seek refuge that is warm enough in the wild for an extended period of time. And they are not a species that would typically go dormant during the winter like our native lizards, snakes and alligators do,” he explained.
(Editor’s Note: At presstime Tuesday, the iguana was spotted in the same vicinity again. Rogers said his brother-in-law, Wilton Telford, saw what is likely the same critter.)
