Venomous lizard found in San Diego yard

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A venomous lizard found in a suburban San Diego yard is either a Gila monster or a Rio Fuerte beaded lizard, animal control officials said.

The lizard was found Friday in Rancho Bernardo, Calif., the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. It will be positively identified this week.

A San Diego County Animal Services spokesman said it is unlikely the lizard migrated from the desert into the upscale community, the newspaper said. A permit from the state Department of Fish and Game is required in order to keep Gila monsters as pets, the newspaper said.