Overview

• The monitor lizard was sighted near Little Pond in Thompson on July 26, marking its first confirmed appearance across the Massachusetts border.
• Thompson Animal Control has teamed with Massachusetts State Police, the EPA and reptile specialists in a federal-backed effort to capture Goose.
• Officials have warned residents not to approach the five-foot reptile and to report any sightings to Webster Animal Control or State Police Troop D immediately.
• Search efforts have been complicated by unverified reports and confusion with native snapping turtles, making photographic confirmation crucial.
• Water monitor lizards are illegal to keep in Massachusetts without permits, and rescued animals typically go to facilities like Rainforest Reptile Shows for care.