RYE, NH — You could say a New Hampshire woman is relieved to have her “reckless reptile” back at home. Police in Rye turned to social media after a 2-foot long iguana escaped out of a window and bit a bicyclist.
The police chief says the department was bombarded with help from the community after posting a photo of this fugitive reptile on social media. Its owner is now thanking everyone who helped get him home, and apologizing to the man who was bitten while trying to help.
“I guess he just wanted an adventure,” said Brenda Schultz.
Owner Brenda Schultz says her green iguana Mr. Jingles clawed his way through a screen and plunged down onto the grass below while she was sleeping.
“He’s never been quite this bad before. You be a nice boy,” said Schultz.
The wandering iguana eluded capture for hours until the police chief in neighboring Hampton spotted him while driving to a meeting nearby. He called police, but before officers got there a man on a bicycle attempted to catch Mr. Jingles using a leash, but the 2-foot long lizard wasn’t having it.
After this feisty lizard chomped down on two of the good Samaritan’s fingers, police slowly corralled him with the help of some local veterinarians.
“We used a blanket, it was like shoeing a bull into a cage,” said Rye NH Police Chief Kevin Walsh. “You definitely didn’t want to get bit I’m not sure the towns insurance would’ve taken an iguana biting an employee. I don’t have training for that.”
Schultz tells Boston 25 she rescued Mr. Jingles from someone who didn’t want him about 10 years ago and says she considers him to be part of her family.
The man who was bitten was checked out by EMTs, but didn’t want any further medical treatment.