6-foot lizard loose in Colorado

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WOODLAND PARK, Colo., July 17 (UPI) -- A six-foot-long Nile monitor lizard escaped its enclosure and was on the loose in Teller County, Colo., police said Tuesday.

Emergency notifications went out to residents in the Woodland West, Westwood Lakes and Rosewood Hills subdivisions between the Colorado communities of Divide and Woodland Park that care needs to be exercised if meeting the lizard, KRDO-TV reported Tuesday.

"It's a large reptile, at least 25 pounds, and it can be aggressive. We want the people in those areas to know so they could keep on eye on their pets and small children," said Teller County Sheriff Mike Ensinger.

The owner of the lizard, who declined to give his name but pointed out his pet's name is Dino, said, "He looks dangerous, but he's a very gentle lizard. He's not a threat to anybody," adding that he did not think Dino would eat any animal larger than a prairie dog.