JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --
The large lizard found near a firehouse might be a semi-regular sight in the deep reaches of Africa, but it's wild find in Jacksonville.
Animal Control officials said a potentially dangerous and poisonous Nile Monitor was safely captured and locked up Tuesday evening.
"At first, I thought it was an alligator because of its coloring," said Animal Control officer Rob Currey. "When he popped his head up and hissed at me I realized he wasn't."
Currey said he inspected the large black-and-white lizard and realized it was a Nile Monitor, a lizard not native to the states and illegal to own in Florida.
The 3-foot-long reptile was found wandering around in front of Firehouse 58.
"You look at it and say, 'That doesn't belong here.' It doesn't belong in Florida for that matter," Fire Chief David Rounds.
The quick-thinking firefighters at Firehouse 58 grabbed a garbage can and corralled the lizard into a corner and trapped it.
The Nile Monitor stayed trapped in a corner of the fire station until it was removed by Animal Control -- a good move because the lizards are known for their aggressive temperament, powerful bite and lashing tail.
Currey said it was fortunate that the lizard was captured when it was because the wandering Nile Monitor was hungry.
"They grown pretty big, and luckily we got him when he was little," Currey said.
Nile Monitors can grow to be 7 feet, and are known as the largest lizards in Africa. The one captured Tuesday is likely to go to a reptile rescue or the Jacksonville Zoo.
