Massachusetts Police Capture Escaped 5-Foot Water Monitor Lizard After Two Weeks

Goose, a 5-foot-long water monitor lizard that escaped from a home in Webster, Massachusetts, on July 18, was captured after more than two weeks on the loose. The lizard traveled across state lines, being spotted in Thompson, Connecticut, and Douglas, Massachusetts, prompting warnings from authorities to avoid approaching the animal due to safety concerns. Goose was illegally kept as a pet, and the owners are under investigation by environmental police. The capture was the result of coordinated efforts by the Massachusetts Environmental Police, Webster Police Department, Douglas Police Department, and reptile specialists from Rainforest Reptile Shows. Goose will now be relocated to RRS Oasis, a nonprofit animal sanctuary, where it will receive expert care in a specially designed habitat. Authorities and sanctuary staff expressed gratitude for the teamwork that ensured Goose's safe capture, and updates on the lizard's transition will be shared through social media.