My Wildlife Adventure

Ms tyrion2 · ‎05-08-2017

I am taking care of my friend's pool while they are on vacation. As a perk, I get to float around a bit while I am there.

I drifted over by the skimmer basket and I could see something in there. Sometimes animals get stuck and you have to get the poor dead creature out.

From what little I could see, it looked reptile. Praying it wasn't a snake I pried the cover off. No rattling--good!

Inside, floating was a big, pink and black lizard. I poked it with end of the pool skimmer and it was alive.

Something told me not to pick it up with my hands. I got him out and he slowly crawled away into a rock pile.

When i got home, i Googled him and it was a freaking Gila Monster! The only venomous lizard in Arizona. When they bite, they won't let go. They are very rare and protected. Few people ever see one.

I feel good for saving him and REALLY good for listening to my inner voice not to pick him up with my bare hands.

Citrine1 · ‎03-09-2010

Yikes. Reading your post was freaking me out. My dog's tail just brushed against my bare foot and I almost jumped out of my skin. LOL Geez, we just don't get things like that here in Philly. The idea of a snake or lizard in my pool scares the poo out of me!

Glad you are safe @Ms tyrion2 !

on the bay · ‎03-09-2010

Wow! That is a wildlife adventure!😬

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"

Ms tyrion2 · ‎05-08-2017

@Citrine1 wrote:
Yikes. Reading your post was freaking me out. My dog's tail just brushed against my bare foot and I almost jumped out of my skin. LOL Geez, we just don't get things like that here in Philly. The idea of a snake or lizard in my pool scares the poo out of me!

Glad you are safe @Ms tyrion2 !

@Citrine1 ,

I am pretty fearless when it comes to reptiles.

Now, big bugs? They practically bring me to my knees with fear.

We all have something. 😁

fthunt · ‎12-24-2010

@Citrine1 Dog's tail............I can't stop laughing. I can so relate and......I'm still laughing. I would have left that lizard in there until it died - dead died and let the pool owner handle it. LOL No lizard hero saver here!

Ms tyrion2 · ‎05-08-2017

@fthunt wrote:
@Citrine1 Dog's tail............I can't stop laughing. I can so relate and......I'm still laughing. I would have left that lizard in there until it died - dead died and let the pool owner handle it. LOL No lizard hero saver here!

I couldn't do that @fthunt .

Besides feeling bad about a truly beautiful and rare animal, the pool cleaning system wouldn't work correctly with it in there.

I had to suck it up and do it.

fthunt · ‎12-24-2010

@Ms tyrion2 Okay - but you didn't know he was rare until Google. That being said - a lizard is a lizard - Congratulations on removing him without getting hurt. Me - No dice. chipmunk = another story

Ms tyrion2 · ‎05-08-2017

@fthunt wrote:
@Ms tyrion2 Okay - but you didn't know he was rare until Google. That being said - a lizard is a lizard - Congratulations on removing him without getting hurt. Me - No dice. chipmunk = another story

Ok. Got it.

I look at it as rare is rare. That didn't change because I didn't know it at the time.

🦎🦎🦎

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@Ms tyrion2. You'd better ask for lifetime pool privileges when your friend returns. I wonder if the poor soggy gila monster has made it back to his desert home yet? Most people probably live there a lifetime and never see one. Lucky you!

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment