I caught more than I bargained on
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382115)
Rockingham, Australia
November 15, 2016 8:34pm CST
I've had a cat-trap in the garden trying to catch a feral cat. You might have read my post about it. We haven't had any luck although the trap was set off one morning. Usually I set it just before dusk and pick up the mince next morning rather than leave it out for the blowflies.
Last night I used part of a tin of tuna as bait and I left the trap set. I was in the house and heard a bit of a clank. Herc (pet sheep) then baaed, telling me something a bit different was going on. I looked out the window and I had caught a lovely big skink.
These lizards are quite harmless and we are used to seeing them around the house and occasionally hearing them in the ceiling. They sometimes sun themselves on the window-sills.
Anyway he was very pleased when I opened the cage-door and let him out. I wonder if I'll catch him again tomorrow?
26 people like this
24 responses
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
16 Nov 16
That is a big lizard you got there. I can't imagine just having them around lol
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
17 Nov 16
@JudyEv We have little tiny ones in Florida but here in CT nothing like that lol
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
16 Nov 16
Its good to leave the animals free
2 people like this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
16 Nov 16
@JudyEv everyone wants to be free... No one wants to live in any boundations
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
16 Nov 16
what a beaut! i bet't t'was more'n pleased to be set free, but 't'd not surprise me if'n ya caught 't, 'r 'nother, lol. we'd a major skunk infestation some years back, many'd tested positive fer rabies so we'd various traps out. sadly they'd the need to be killed 'n the hubs'd dunk the cage'n water - the poor souls drowned :( one morn, he went out jest 'fore t'was daylight, saw black'n white snugly'n the trap. he yanked't 'p 'n t'was jest fixin' to dunk when he heard meowin' - twas a cat! he let't go 'n i'll be danged if'n he didn't catch the same one 4 times 'fore t'was all said'n done.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
16 Nov 16
@JudyEv yes ma'am, they'll get aggressive. i worried 'bout not jest my young'uns, but the cattle 'n horses, too. the pups 'n cats'd all their vaccines.
kinda funny how that works :) 'r aggravatin', lol.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382115)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Nov 16
@crazyhorseladycx Horses and cattle don't get rabies though do they? If they're bitten, might the bite become infected?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382115)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Nov 16
I don't know a lot about rabies although I did see Ol' Yeller many years ago. That made an impression on me! Do smaller creatures which have rabies become aggressive or would they only bite if cornered or captured? I know some of our little creatures get caught time and time again when conservationists are doing studies. I guess they get a taste for whatever bait is used.
1 person likes this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
23 Nov 16
Fascinating, those skinks, especially that BIG one, whew! I got to wondering what your big skink might eat.
Pretty interesting. Apparently some people think they're cute and keep them for pets.
But not I.
They are good for the garden, though.
Skinks are omnivores -- they eat both plants and meat. Choosing fresh, premium foods is important to your skink's health.
1 person likes this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
23 Nov 16
@JudyEv They be stylin' in they polkadots and stuff. I think most baby animals are cute, but somehow reptiles just don't do it for me. Kids used to bring chameleons to school and we'd watch them change colors but I never wanted to have one as a pet.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382115)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 16
@blitzfrick There are quite a few around here so we've very lucky in that way. Here's some babies we found under some bark over at the wood-shed.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Nov 16
He may be harmless but that bad boy would give me a start.
2 people like this
@CookieMonster46 (13453)
• United States
16 Nov 16
You might end up catching everything but the cat, did you put a towel over it, sometimes they will go in the trap faster.
1 person likes this
@CookieMonster46 (13453)
• United States
19 Nov 16
@JudyEv I put a towel and some cat food in there on a paper plate, I learned this from the feral cat people that we were help trapping them, to get them fixed, and then returned.
One night I heard a dog howling all night I kept going out there, couldn't find the dog, it kept me awake all night..
Found out the neighbors dog was in there , he was after the cat food and spent the night in the trap. The owner laughed, she says he breaks out every night and they heard him, but didn't know where he was.
1 person likes this
@kevinakash (2084)
• Sri Lanka
20 Nov 16
with all these posts and fotoes it looks Aus is very nice. BTW here this much big lizards aren't found. here creatures we called lizard is measured not more than 2 feet.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
16 Nov 16
where there is food...maybe? lol
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
17 Nov 16
@JudyEv or it was still full, lol
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Nov 16
I am sure he enjoyed the tuna. How big was he?
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
16 Nov 16
@JudyEv "I just went out in the drizzle and measured the cage." hahaha! now you have an idea what questions will crop up next time!
19 inches is scary big for me and if i saw him on the ceiling or the window sill i'd be spooked! 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382115)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Nov 16
@hereandthere I wouldn't want him on the ceiling either but he was above the ceiling walking on it - in the roof space. And he was outside on the window sill.
@JudyEv (382115)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Nov 16
The things I do for myLotters! I just went out in the drizzle and measured the cage. It's okay. Don't feel guilty. 
I was interested too. The other photo I took shows him 'straight' so to speak. The cage is 29 inches long and I reckon he was about 19 inches. He is one of the biggest I've seen.
I was interested too. The other photo I took shows him 'straight' so to speak. The cage is 29 inches long and I reckon he was about 19 inches. He is one of the biggest I've seen.2 people like this
@JudyEv (382115)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov 16
That's very true. I can understand that if you rarely ever see any.
@JudyEv (382115)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Nov 16
I think these are quite opportunistic eaters and would try all sorts of stuff. I shouldn't imagine too many would get the chance to try tuna too often. The smell probably attracted him for starters and he would have had a taste. The tuna was all gone so I wouldn't be surprised if he ate it.
@JudyEv (382115)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Nov 16
He is quite bit isn't he? He was very frightened poor thing but I saw him immediately he sprang the trap so I was able to take a photo then release him.
@LindaCPearson (2240)
• United States
17 Nov 16
I don't think I'd want that in my yard. At first I thought it was an alligator! Is it a meat eater or a vegetarian? I hope it doesn't eat the feral cat!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382115)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Nov 16
It is omnivorous I think. I've seen it eating flowers. I'm sure it wouldn't tackle the cat. It is only about 19 inches long and a lot of that is tail.
@CoolPeace (1563)
• Miami, Florida
16 Nov 16
I heard milk can make a cat come to you because they smell it. I think you should try milk.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
16 Nov 16
Eeek. I wonder if this is the same as our skinks -- I haven't seen one up close because ours are so fast, you only see a blur
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382115)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Nov 16
Maybe they are similar. Ours aren't really tame but with just two of us the house is pretty quiet so we do spot them from time to time.
