Once upon a time, an emerald green iguana came to live at our suburban home. His name was Drako and he became the source of local folklore.
One day two salesmen sauntered up the walk to our front door. It was a bubbling hot August day. Hoping to catch the hint of a lake breeze, I had left open our front door. Only a screened partition stood between me---inside---and any possible intruders.
About to ring our bell, the salesmen suddenly scurried away with nary a backward glance. Puzzled but relieved, I wondered why their sudden departure.
Then I noticed. Chuckled.
One day two salesmen sauntered up the walk to our front door. It was a bubbling hot August day. Hoping to catch the hint of a lake breeze, I had left open our front door. Only a screened partition stood between me---inside---and any possible intruders.
About to ring our bell, the salesmen suddenly scurried away with nary a backward glance. Puzzled but relieved, I wondered why their sudden departure.
Then I noticed. Chuckled.
Resembling a mini-dragon, our teenage son’s pet iguana---Drako--- clung to the top of the screen. Sharp claws gripped the fine wire netting. Beady eyes scanned tall trees with luscious leaves growing on our front lawn. Over 2 feet/0.61 metres long, including his long tail, Drako appeared an ominous creature to any unsuspecting onlooker. Like me, Drako obviously had hoped to catch a welcome breeze on the screen. Instead, he caught the eye of a couple of unsuspecting humans who fled as if seeing a monster.
How did Drako become part of our busy family that included three teenage males? Unfortunately, our middle son learned early in life he was allergic to furry creatures. No stately cats. No bounding dogs. No fluffy bunnies. So he chose an iguana. An iguana that was given freedom to roam our four-bedroom, two-storey home. But that’s another story.
Not especially cuddly, Drako did, however, possess other positive attributes. A herbivore, he loved munching on crisp, water-laden lettuce fresh from the refrigerator. Or juicy grapes accidentally left on the kitchen counter. He didn’t cost a fortune to feed.
How did Drako become part of our busy family that included three teenage males? Unfortunately, our middle son learned early in life he was allergic to furry creatures. No stately cats. No bounding dogs. No fluffy bunnies. So he chose an iguana. An iguana that was given freedom to roam our four-bedroom, two-storey home. But that’s another story.
Not especially cuddly, Drako did, however, possess other positive attributes. A herbivore, he loved munching on crisp, water-laden lettuce fresh from the refrigerator. Or juicy grapes accidentally left on the kitchen counter. He didn’t cost a fortune to feed.
Arboreal by nature, he often climbed the floor length curtains to straddle the top of drapery rods. Nothing more disconcerting than having the feeling something--- or someone--- is watching you. Then you look around and there! on top of the curtain rod! lies a bright green lizard nonchalantly peering at you with big bug-out eyes.
With a tendency to skitter across the floor with remarkable speed---and with the flexible body of a reptile---Drako could easily disappear if not watched and be lost forever: out an open door, down a loose floor grate, or perhaps wedged behind the furniture. This became a problem because he had no scent and therefore could not be tracked down.
One afternoon, Son Owner checked his special aquarium with the lava hot rock and found no iguana! Raising the alarm, he enlisted his family’s aid in joining a house-wide hunt for his mini-dragon. Even brought in a large, reckless tracking dog to sniff him out but with no scent to follow this proved fruitless. Only thing this rambunctious dawg accomplished was terrifying the rest of us and probably drove Drako deeper into hiding.
With a tendency to skitter across the floor with remarkable speed---and with the flexible body of a reptile---Drako could easily disappear if not watched and be lost forever: out an open door, down a loose floor grate, or perhaps wedged behind the furniture. This became a problem because he had no scent and therefore could not be tracked down.
One afternoon, Son Owner checked his special aquarium with the lava hot rock and found no iguana! Raising the alarm, he enlisted his family’s aid in joining a house-wide hunt for his mini-dragon. Even brought in a large, reckless tracking dog to sniff him out but with no scent to follow this proved fruitless. Only thing this rambunctious dawg accomplished was terrifying the rest of us and probably drove Drako deeper into hiding.
Desperate, we called the pet store owner who gave precise directions on how to find the reptilian pet. After filling a tin foil pie plate with water, we placed it on the floor surrounded by newspaper. Sprinkled flour on the newspaper. Now all we had to do was wait for Mr. Iguana to come out of his hiding place to drink water. Naturally he would splash in the water. Naturally his wet clawed feet would pick up the flour as he headed back to his hiding place. All we needed to do was follow his flour-laden tracks and presto! we would find him.
Except the plan didn’t work. For one week, the mini dragon disappeared.
Until one morning we heard a shriek. Aha…Mr. Iguana must have reappeared! In Son Owner’s bottom drawer of his dresser. Hidden comfortably amongst his underwear.
Drako caused cocktail chatter. Guests arriving in our home for refreshments were puzzled by many bare green stalks planted in pots. Our resident mini-dragon had polished off the foliage leaving only the stems.
It was easy to get rid of an undesirable guest. We merely introduced our lizard in all his reptilian glory. Amazing how said guest suddenly remembered something left cooking on his stove at home and hastily excused himself.
Even the twittering birds perched on the hydro wire stopped their chirp chattering in silent awe when they spied this strange creature. In a group, they scuttled quickly in the opposite direction along the wire while staring at this harnessed green iguana slowly climbing to the top of our backyard cherry tree.
When Son left for university, he found a home for Drako with a local avid naturalist who introduced myriads of students to such stunning marvels of nature as iguanas.
And Drako lived happily ever after.
Except the plan didn’t work. For one week, the mini dragon disappeared.
Until one morning we heard a shriek. Aha…Mr. Iguana must have reappeared! In Son Owner’s bottom drawer of his dresser. Hidden comfortably amongst his underwear.
Drako caused cocktail chatter. Guests arriving in our home for refreshments were puzzled by many bare green stalks planted in pots. Our resident mini-dragon had polished off the foliage leaving only the stems.
It was easy to get rid of an undesirable guest. We merely introduced our lizard in all his reptilian glory. Amazing how said guest suddenly remembered something left cooking on his stove at home and hastily excused himself.
Even the twittering birds perched on the hydro wire stopped their chirp chattering in silent awe when they spied this strange creature. In a group, they scuttled quickly in the opposite direction along the wire while staring at this harnessed green iguana slowly climbing to the top of our backyard cherry tree.
When Son left for university, he found a home for Drako with a local avid naturalist who introduced myriads of students to such stunning marvels of nature as iguanas.
And Drako lived happily ever after.
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