What Did An Alleged Alligator Terrifying A Washington Neighborhood Turn Out To Be?
What did an alleged alligator terrifying a Washington neighborhood turn out to be? It turns out, there was no reason to panic.
In states like Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina it’s pretty common to come across an alligator. People in those states know to be alert. However, gators aren’t as common in the state of Washington. So, a neighborhood was freaking out when they believed the saw an alligator terrifying a Washington neighborhood. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. What did it turn out to be?
What Did An Alleged Alligator Terrifying A Washington Neighborhood Turn Out To Be?
No, it wasn’t a 10 foot alligator roaming around a neighborhood in Granite Falls, Washington. It was just a large pet lizard! A neighborhood was in panic and freaking out and the whole time it was just someone’s pet lizard out for a leisurely stroll, per People.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office took to X (formerly Twitter) informing residents that they are investigating the sighting of a 10′ alligator. The reptile was last seen south of Ray Grade Rd toward the Pilchuck River. No further information at this time.” The post included a photo showing a large reptile in a sunny marshy area. Looking at the picture below, I can understand how it looks like a gator! I wouldn’t want that roaming around my neighborhood!
Eventually, the whole thing was cleared up when someone on a Facebook group clarified the misunderstanding. The reptile in question was actually a pet lizard owned by Shanna Duncan, and its name is Tazz. Per Forbes, Duncan’s Facebook post read, “His name is Tazz and he is very, very tame. He is not dangerous and a very beloved family pet. Please do not hurt him if you see him. Please contact me here or animal control.”
Tazz is a white Argentine tegu and not an alligator, but they do share some resemblance. Despite people claiming they saw a 10-foot alligator, it was actually only a 4-foot lizard. If I saw it out in the wild, I could think it’s an alligator so I can’t blame anyone. According to People, these tegus are usually non-aggressive towards humans but do have 2 large venom glands but it’s not strong enough to harm humans.
Tazz has since been returned home safely. Duncan thanked the town for coming together to save her pet and says it was like something out of a movie.