Wichita Falls Reptile Rescue

[5/19/08] We just took in 2 additional Leopard Geckos from someone who is going through some rough times and has to give them up. If this person can't be in a position to take them back in a couple of months, we may be looking for placement. Pictures soon.

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Above: These are our first rescues of the year. Both Mediterranean Geckos found perched dangerously under a floor drain at a pet store. Whether they came in from the wild and used the store as shelter, or whether they were escapees, we don't know; but, their minutes were numbered having taken refuge at a drain where bleach and other cleaning chemicals are dumped routinely. They will be released at a local property owner's Gecko refuge this summer.  

Above: This Mediterranean Gecko was rescued after being discovered by a woman on her porch. Cold and likely caught off guard by a recent cold front; he was also missing his tail. The woman brought him into a pet store looking for help. This gecko will be rehabilitated and returned to the wild in the spring, and he already has a sponsor who will set him loose around her house in the country so he can catch lots of tasty bugs! His tail is already beginning to regrow well. Though many lizards are able to shed their tail and live, it is stressful for them and the possibility always exists that infection will result that can lead to death. Losing a tail is not a risk free event for the lizard. When this happens they also lose a large part of their fat reserves, which can make it very difficult for them to survive through the winter.

Above: Another Mediterranean Gecko rescue. This one suffered from an injured foot and had lost 2 toes. He appears to be doing fine now and will be released with the other in the spring.

Above & Below: This is Charlie. Charlie is a Golden Gecko who was purchased from Petco and returned the same day after the buyers, who did not know how to handle ( or not handle ) Geckos, broke his tail off. He could not be resold, so we rescued him. His wounded tail is being cleaned to be free from debris and treated with antibiotic. After 2 weeks, it is beginning to heal nicely and show new growth. This kind of injury can be very stressful to a Gecko, as it loses a majority of it's fat stores when it loses it's tail. It also places the Gecko in increased jeopardy for infection. When the healing and new growth progresses to a satifactory level, he will be adopted out to a good home. 

Update [8/19/07]:  

Charlie continues to do well, and has put on about 2" of new growth on his tail. It is progressing nicely. He is still quite shy and spends most of his time in his cave hide over the undertank heater. He does dart out with lightning speed to grab mealworms treats however.  

[8/23/07] This is Bubba. Bubba is a juvenile Green Iguana and appears to be a male, based on his most recent pictures. Bubba is a previous rescue and was taken in by the Lewisville Hepetological Society and was being used to educate school children. He is outgrowing the space they have available however, and is in need of a new home. He appears to be about 10" SVL. He is being kept in Lewisville in his current housing until we can find a home for him. We are taking adoption applications for Bubba in order to assist their efforts. Only those with previous successful reptile experience ( and especially large lizard ) will be considered.   

[Update 10/8/07] Bubba is no longer open for adoption.

[8/22/07] This is "General Gecko", a White Spotted Wall Gecko. He was just captured today after living on the run in a local pet store, after escaping a couple of years back. He was the stuff of folklore in the store, and stories were circulated about sightings in cubbyholes and dark breakroom walls...the "white whale" of one particular manager. He apparently did well for himself in the store because he's a big SOB. About 6 inches. In fact the employee who caught and wrangled him with leather gloves still got a nip he felt through the gloves. We've seen baby crocs smaller than this Gecko.

We would have just left him where he was since he was doing so well, and probably cleaning up the store by eating other escaped animals, but management wanted him out.   

He will be put up for adoption, but due to his "pugnacious" attitude, speed, and willingness to bite, only those with significant Gecko or lizard experience will be considered.

[11/20/07]

Happy Birthday!

Just born today ( Sunday 8/5/07 ). These two Bahama Anole hatchlings were rescued as eggs from a local petstore last week when they were discovered in the tanks on the sales floor. Store policy was to throw these eggs away, but a thoughtful employee contacted us. They were only a week away from life, and got lucky. They sat in a shallow container of damp vermiculite in an 80 degree room for a few days, and today while making rounds checking on baby Horned Lizards, they were discovered leaping around the table like a mini Jurassic Park attraction!  They will be adoptable when they are old enough to start taking pinhead crickets. For now they are being fed flightless fruitflies.

Update [8/19/07]:

These two are very easy and have been doing great. Since they were captive hatched, they are beginning to tame down when we approach and reach into their tank. We cannot handle them yet to examine them closer, but they do like to jump on and off our hands when we are trying to change their water, etc.