Little Ray’s Nile monitor lizard on the lam in Hamilton

If you spot a Nile monitor lizard making its way around Hamilton, your eyes aren't fooling you.

In a plea on Facebook Saturday morning, Little Ray's Reptile Zoo and Nature Centre, located at Barton Street East and Gage Avenue North, has asked Hamiltonians to be on the lookout for a lizard on the lam.

The male Nile monitor lizard is described as being a little over three-feet long and about three pounds. Nile monitor lizards - also known as Varanus niloticus - which are native to Sub-Saharan Africa and are found along the Nile, do not pose a threat to humans or other animals, said CEO Paul Goulet.

Speaking to The Spectator, Goulet said a senior staff member had been cleaning the monitor lizard's habitat on Saturday morning when it's believed the reptile got out of the building through a door that was slightly ajar."

Staff then combed" the inside of the building when they realized it was missing, but to no avail did they locate him.

The staff member feels terrible," said Goulet. He's pretty distraught right now."

Now, the clock is ticking to find the lizard before it gets too far away from the centre. There were no signs of the scaly creature on a primary search of the property or the immediate area, leading staff to believe the lizard is on the move.

And he could be anywhere, said Goulet. Nile monitor lizards are quick on their feet and they're pretty resourceful."

He could dig for grubs, he could have found a place with mice," Goulet said. He might get into garbage, he's got a pretty good sense of smell."

The major concern is how far he could get away from the east Hamilton neighbourhood. The worst case scenario" is that they don't find him at all and winter comes, Goulet added.

It wouldn't be hard for him to move and get 20 blocks away or even 30 blocks away," said Goulet, calling him an active" lizard. The longer it goes without us being able to find him, the less of an opportunity that we are going to find him."

Goulet said the monitor lizard family has a cardiovascular system that allows them to move on a regular basis, allowing them to continue walking for hours at a time - unlike an iguana or a gecko.

The longer the lizard is out of the centre, the more uncomfortable" he will become with threats" such as people and other animals. He'd also likely become more nervous," said Goulet.

His well-being is their biggest concern," as the lizard does not pose a threat to humans or other animals such as cats - which could actually kill him, said Goulet. The lizard is one that would often be used to educate children at the centre and is not venomous.

We let kids touch him," said Goulet. There is more of a chance that a cat would go after him."

Staff members from the centre are set to go door-to-door Saturday afternoon to ask residents if they can check their backyards, said Goulet. The lizard could have also made his way underneath a car or up into a tree.

If a resident does spot the lizard, they are asked to report the sighting to animal control or directly to Little Ray's by calling 613-807-6889. A $200 reward is also being offered for any reports of a confirmed sighting. Residents are asked not to approach the lizard or try to grab him.

This lizard was a rescue that originally came from Sherbrooke, Que., said Goulet. He's approximately five-years-old.

He's super fast ... he would almost be impossible to catch," Goulet said. Despite no sightings as of mid-Saturday, he noted there is hope" that the lizard will be found.

I'm optimistic," he said. His welfare is our primary concern."

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com