Feral Bearded Dragons?

[Ancline]

Has anyone seen/heard of bearded dragons surviving in the wild in North America? My friend was telling me about two bearded dragons that have been basking in her driveway for the last few years. Well... until her husband ran one over by accident (RIP), now she can't find the other one. She thought they were a native species until I told her they're native to Australia and they must be feral, escaped, or abandoned pets.

If the other comes back what should she do? Call animal control? Or is there a rescue somewhere in North Texas I can get her in contact with?

She really likes the lizard but can't keep it as a pet since she has a very curious/territorial doberman. I just got a bearded dragon which is how the ferals got brought to my atention, and I can't take in a full grown as mine is still a juvenile.

 

[CooperDragon]

That's sad to hear about the dragon who got run over. They aren't native but can survive in the wild in some warmer areas of the country. There are some native species such as the western fence lizard that look similar to dragons but belong in the wild. If your friend could get a photo the next time she sees one it would be helpful for identifying them.

 

[kingofnobbys]

The deserts and central areas of Australia are completely different climatically to most USA , they are :
low altitude where the central wastelands of the USA are very high altitude so get COLD at night and polar like in winter
tropical (close to the Tropic and north toward the equator.


Unless the lost beardie can find a protected place to hunker down when it's cold (at night and during cold months , it is very unlikely to survive , the first frosty night will kill it.

 

[JessPets]

They might not be beardies. There are a few similar native species that could possibly be them. Then again, it could be someones thrown away pet. I hope not

 

[Ancline]

So I told my friend to take a picture if she saw one again. We're pretty sure it was a bearded dragon since according to her "it turned its chin black and bloated it's throat when Zepher (her dog) barked at it." Where she lives in North Texas it only gets freezing weather maybe once or twice a day every 3 years, the winter has been particularly mild for the last 4 years until this year. You may be right the cold weather this year may have frozen it to death. I hope not there are pleanty of warm places arround the homes it could have hidden out at, I hope it's alright. But it was up in the 70s the day before the freeze came I'm not sure if it would have thought brumation was over then froze to death. I found a few geckos and snakes arround my parent's lawn that had come out of hibernation only to get caught in the 30 degree weather, I managed to save a Mediterranean house gecko by bringing it inside until the weather heated up again. So it might not be looking good for any feral beardies. If she does see it again and it is a bearded dragon where would be a good place to contact? She lives in Keller, which is just North of Fortworth.

 

[kingofnobbys]

So I told my friend to take a picture if she saw one again. We're pretty sure it was a bearded dragon since according to her "it turned its chin black and bloated it's throat when Zepher (her dog) barked at it." Where she lives in North Texas it only gets freezing weather maybe once or twice a day every 3 years, the winter has been particularly mild for the last 4 years until this year. You may be right the cold weather this year may have frozen it to death. I hope not there are pleanty of warm places arround the homes it could have hidden out at, I hope it's alright. But it was up in the 70s the day before the freeze came I'm not sure if it would have thought brumation was over then froze to death. I found a few geckos and snakes arround my parent's lawn that had come out of hibernation only to get caught in the 30 degree weather, I managed to save a Mediterranean house gecko by bringing it inside until the weather heated up again. So it might not be looking good for any feral beardies. If she does see it again and it is a bearded dragon where would be a good place to contact? She lives in Keller, which is just North of Fortworth.

I would think the local reptile (herpetology) club or any reptile breeders you might find in the YELLOW PAGES or by Googling the area would be a good start .... likely be able to put you onto someone who is into reptile rescue and rehabilitation. I can't help as I'm in Australia, but googled up http://www.dfwherp.org/about.html. , look them up , I'm sure someone in the club can help.

I do suggest they keep a towel and a small animal carrier handy , if they see it again toss a towel over it , this way if it's reverted to a wild state they can more easily pick it up and transfer it to the animal keeper and they can bring it home and let it calm down in a warm quiet room for a day or so before trying to get it out , a 100L - 150L plastic tub is a good option for a temporary lizard tank , cardboard posting boxes with a hole cut in one end make a good temporary hide. An MVB on a lamp stand will provide the UVA and UVB and heat it needs.
If it's been a pet, it'll soon tame up once they start feeding bugs and greens and grated/chopped veg to it.