OT: Critters that appear in the backyard

[Bruce Scott]

I spotted the dawg worrying something under the caravan (trailer). At first I thought he had a snake, then this little feller ran up the power pole.



To give some idea of its size, the sign nailed to the pole is five inches wide.

[gamekeeper]

WOW! Are critter's like that considered friend or foe?.

[Bruce Scott]

Friend. You wouldn't want to pick one up as their claws are pretty vicious and a bite would not be much fun either. This one is on the small side - they can grow to about six feet in length. Their diet includes smaller reptiles, small mammals, frogs, nesting birds, eggs and carrion.

Their usual avenue of escape is up the nearest tree. Folklore has it that in the absence of any trees they have run up the nearest human discoverer - .

[gamekeeper]

WOW again! Sounds like something out of Jurassic Park!

[Andrew]

Cool! I don't know about sharing my space with huge lizards. The biggest we have are about 6" long and lose their tail if you snag 'em.

[Ysabel Kid]

Do open cups of water vibrant when that thing is around?!?

[Tycer]

Are they tasty?

[TedH]

Do open cups of water vibrant when that thing is around?!?

[TedH]

Do open cups of water vibrant when that thing is around?!?

Find a couple more of them and you got a nice looking pair of boots.

[Bruce Scott]

Are they tasty?

I have eaten one, or parts thereof. It was during the escape and evasion exercise on a service survival course and we caught one late in the afternoon. The situation demanded no light after dark so cooking time was very limited. The goanna was chucked whole on a fire, Aboriginal style, and given a brief roasting. It was oily with a taste something like duck.

[AmBraCol]

Are they tasty?

The Bruce has answered your question already, but the thing looks edible enough to me. We had similar 'round our place when I was growing up. They'd reach lengths up to six foot - maybe even bigger. They used their tails for defense and food acquisition. That tail will break a chicken's neck easily and leaves impressive gashes in a dog's face. The one I ate was skinned and fried. It was pretty good. Never have tried iguana. The one I DID try to try was WAY too odoriferous so got deep sixed instead. I'd love a chance to try Australian goana or African monitor. Someday, perhaps. That one's a bit on the small side for good eating. Not much there.

[deerwhacker444]

Is that some type of Monitor lizard..?

[rjohns94]

very kewl, should keep the mice and small children away

[AmBraCol]

Is that some type of Monitor lizard..?

Goana - in Australia.

Monitor would be in Africa

And tiú would be in S. America - although there's another name I can never remember for the tiú and they are even sold as pets in some places.

They all cook up fine.

[Mike D.]

Looks like someone's pet Monitor lizard has escaped. Grab it behind the head and hold on to the tail. No problem.

[slimster]

Is that some type of Monitor lizard..?

Fortunately it's just a "monitor" lizard at my house. If it was "live and in person" here, it would be a "dead" lizard.

[Travis Morgan]

I keep hearing the "Crocodile Hunter" shreiking, "Croiky! Look at that goana poo! What a beauty!"

[kimwcook]

Yeah, Steve Irwin was a crazy Aussie.

Australia's got some mean snakes too. Lot's of crawlie, slithering things. Then there's the spiders. Crikee, mate, lot's of things to play with.

[Bruce Scott]

These two lovebirds appeared yesterday.


Tiliqua rugosa - Stump Tailed Skink.

Or Bobtail, Bluetongue, Sleepy Lizard, Shingleback - depending on where you come from.

[Travis Morgan]

I was aquainted with a brand inspector in Nevada who'd spent time in Australia gathering wild cows. He had some pretty wild stories fromhis time down there. Th stories of King browns would cause me to carry a matched pair of sawed off double barrelled 12 gauges! (I'm NOT a fan of snakes!!!)