Water monitor lizard Goose spotted in Connecticut after escape

“This animal is owned illegally,” the post said, “and it is important to call animal control as soon as there is a spotting so we can capture it.”

Goose remains on the loose following his escape from a home on Blueberry Lane in Webster on July 18. Following reports of the lizard’s initial escape, Webster Animal Control conducted several unsuccessful searches around the home and in nearby pools via drone, the group said on Facebook.

After consulting with a reptile specialist, and other animal control professionals, Webster Animal Control ended the search July 18, citing delayed notification about the lizard’s escape, the Globe previously reported.

In a July 22 update, Webster Animal Control told residents, “As nights get colder, he has less of a chance of survival. Due to colder nights, he should (hopefully) be trying to seek out warmth and sun.”

“These types of lizards are known to travel, climb trees, and seek out water,” Webster Animal Control said on their Facebook page.

The Environmental Protection Agency is also assisting Webster Animal Control in the search for Goose, the post said.

Water monitor lizards, like Goose, are illegal to keep as pets in Massachusetts without the proper permits, according to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website.

The escape has caught the attention of residents all over Massachusetts, as many left lighthearted comments and jokes on social media as updates about Goose’s journey became available.

“Since he crossed state lines it’s now a federal investigation,” one user wrote on Facebook.

“Did anyone call Geico and tell them their spokesperson is here? I wonder if he’ll sign autographs,” another person commented on Webster Animal Control’s Facebook post.

Water monitor lizards, including Goose, can be identified by their five-foot-long, black bodies with white scarring.

While they are unlikely to harm humans, cats, and dogs, anyone who spots Goose, or another large reptile, is advised to keep their distance from the animal and report its location to Animal Control, the town of Thompson said on Facebook.