Wanted lizard wounded, evades capture

CASSELBERRY, Fla., May 28 (UPI) -- A troublemaking lizard in Casselberry, Fla., managed to evade capture even after it was shot by a local police officer.

The 5-foot Nile monitor lizard, which has led residents to keep pets and children under close supervision, was spotted by a police officer Sunday after weeks of evading capture, WKMG-TV, Orlando, Fla., reported Monday.

The officer fired two shots at the animal, hitting it once, but the lizard escaped once again and crews searching the area around the pond where the shooting occurred could find no trace of the lizard.

The monitor lizard, which is not indigenous to the area, is considered dangerous because of its strong bite, which is laced with bacteria that can be harmful to humans.

"The animal's presence has caused a sense of fear and unease in the nearby neighborhoods and has caused an ongoing public safety concern that has been repeatedly addressed by the police department and animal control," the Casselberry police department said in a statement.