Humane Society caring for 27 abandoned reptiles found in Ontario home

ONTARIO - A blue-tongued skink was not ready for its close-up Monday.

As shelter director Missy Houghton tried to hold the lizard for a photograph, it urinated on her. She didn't seem to mind.

Houghton said the blue-tongued skink also has pooped on her.

"They're usually social," she said. "They will come over to get a scratch on the head."

The Humane Society of Richland County is housing 27 reptiles after getting a report a couple of weeks ago that the creatures had been abandoned at an Ontario house.

"We got a call from Ontario police," Houghton said. "They were worried that the reptiles weren't in good shape.

"A couple of them were dead. Some of the ones we have are not in good shape; they're emaciated."

How they are caring for the reptiles

Most of the reptiles — 27 total — seem to be doing OK at their temporary home. The menagerie includes several pythons, three corn snakes, a California king snake, a boa constrictor and a tegu, a large, omnivorous lizard native to Central and South America.

After her experience with the blue-tongued skink, Houghton wasn't taking any chances on picking up the tegu.

Houghton is partial to a bearded dragon named Nubbins because it's missing a back foot. 

Crested and leopard geckos also are on hand. 

Houghton said the new tenants provide a challenge. Staff had to buy heat lamps with UV bulbs, heating pads and special food, including crickets and frozen mice. The tegu also likes scrambled eggs.

The blue-tongued skink has its own food pyramid.

"It's a big learning curve for us," Houghton said.

Staff spent more than $500 helping creatures 

It's also a costly curve. Houghton estimates the staff has spent $500 so far on supplies. Depending on how long the humane society has to house the reptiles — the case has been presented to Ontario law director Andrew Medwid — food could cost another $100 to $200 a month.

"We would like to be able to place them," Houghton said. "There are places where they could thrive and get more attention."

She added most of the snakes seem to be fearful of people, probably because they haven't been handled much.

Anyone who is interested in fostering any of the reptiles — or any future reptiles —should send an email to www.adoptourstrays.com.

So far, the humane society has received 34 emails. Houghton said foster homes have been lined up for the tegu and blue-tongued skink. 

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MNJCaudill