Runaway 4-foot lizard that became Mass. town’s ‘mascot’ to get livestreamed habitat

A runaway 4-foot reptile that became the “unofficial mascot of Webster” could soon get a 24/7 livestream for people to watch it.

A water monitor lizard named Goose had escaped its home in Webster on July 18. During the search, Goose had been spotted in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

It officially ended on Aug. 2, when the lizard was found hiding in a hole near Southwest Main Street.

At first, Capt. Scott Amati of the Massachusetts Environmental Police tried to use hard-boiled eggs to lure Goose out, but that didn’t work.

He then tried luring it with pieces of chicken, a snack Goose found much more appetizing. After Goose stuck his head out of the hole, he was snared with a catch pole, according to Amati.

The lizard put up a fight but he was placed into a container, Amati said.

Goose’s owner, whom Amati did not name, will face a non-criminal citation for illegally owning the lizard. Goose originally had an owner from New Hampshire before coming to Massachusetts, Amati said.

The lizard was sent to live at Rainforest Reptile Shows‘ Oasis Foundation, a nonprofit animal sanctuary, “where he will receive expert care and a specially designed permanent habitat,” the organization said.

“We don’t just showcase reptiles, we protect them,” the website states.

Chief of Police Michael Shaw said he was a little sad to see the lizard leave.

“He’s kind of our unofficial mascot of Webster,” Shaw said to laughs.

Now, the nonprofit hopes to create a way for people to watch Goose whenever they want.

In a video posted to Facebook, the foundation explained they are building a new habitat for Goose. In the habitat they hope to include a camera for people to watch a livestream of the lizard.

The organization has raised about $2,800 towards building Goose’s brand-new habitat. It is estimated to cost around $4,000 total.

Construction begins this week, and the nonprofit hopes to have the lizard out of quarantine within the next couple of weeks.

But Goose is not the only animal the nonprofit takes care of.

They’ve had about 10 animals come in in the past couple of weeks. This has included ball pythons, bearded dragons, California kingsnakes and some illegal species they weren’t able to disclose due to ongoing cases.

Other animals the foundation has rescued in the past included a highly venomous cobra being kept in a teenager’s home, a Gaboon Viper, who bit its owner and put them in critical condition, and dozens of alligators taken from homes.