Community Corner

Large Lizards Found in Carlsbad Freeway Crash Now at Carlsbad Animal Shelter

San Diego County News Center

Three monitor lizards discovered in a vehicle that crashed along Interstate 5 are now being cared for at the County’s animal shelter in Carlsbad.

An SUV traveling south on the freeway went off the road and into a tree near Palomar Airport Road Thursday evening. The California Highway Patrol took the driver into custody, then notified County Animal Services they found three lizards in a glass container in the vehicle, said Animal Services Lt. Mitchell Levy.

An officer picked up the reptiles and brought them to the shelter, where a veterinary technician looked them over. The lizards were somewhat disoriented, but otherwise appeared unhurt, Levy said.

Monitor lizards can grow quite large, but Levy said these three are juveniles. The animals’ owner has 14 days to claim them. If the owner does not come for them, they will be made available for adoption or turned over to a reptile rescue group.

Handling monitor lizards may not be exactly routine, but it is not unusual for County animal control officers, who are trained to deal with a wide variety of animals, including venomous snakes.“We deal with all kinds of wildlife. You’d be amazed,” Levy said. “If you name it, we probably come into contact with it at some time or other.”


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