Thursday, September 16, 1999
Sewer workers find 20-pound reptile
Metropolitan Sewer District workers made a surprising discovery while inspecting equipment along the Mill Creek: a 3-foot caiman, which resembles an alligator.
The 20-pound reptile — probably an abandoned pet — was spotted Tuesday afternoon, sunning itself along the creek near Beekman Street and Queen City Avenue on the west side, according to Metropolitan Sewer District spokeswoman Ann Newsom.
The Hamilton County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and a reptile expert were called to capture it. The creature was cornered, popped into a cloth bag, and turned over to Walter Williams of Cleves, a member of the Greater Cincinnati Herpetological Society.
Indigenous to South America, the caiman resembles an alligator and has small bony scales on its belly.
“It's a sure bet that it was abandoned,” said SPCA Sgt. Todd Manser. “It may have been a pet, purchased at a pet store. It appeared to be about 3 years old.”
The herpetological society is a group of 250 people dedicated to preserving reptiles and educating the public about them.
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