My Beardie lost outside...again

[Gst395]

Well, I've had to deal with this nightmare once more. This is the second time that my beloved male bearded dragon has been missing for a day now, almost a year after the last incident.t this point, I feel like a very irresponsible owner for letting this happen not once, but twice. Just like I never learn my lesson.

So yeah, I'm obviously very upset about this whole ideal and actually quite ashamed of myself. Usual story, it was a nice day so I let him out to roam my back garden, a couple hours later and he has completely vanished. Every plant and bush has been searched, even under the shed where he was discovered last time, yet not a trace of him. One of my biggest fears is that he may have escaped outside and gone up to a big field that is aprox 30 yards away. Basically I live in a cul-de-sac (Lancashire, England) so obviously there's various houses around with bushes and plants, most of which I've searched but again, no luck.

So these are some concerns I need to ask about, please be as honest as possible.

* How long can they survive outdoors without food? Right now, the temperature varies from 10°C (night) to 20°C (day).
* Are cat attacks on beardies common? There are sometimes cats roaming around and I fear one may have got to him. Do cats carry the bodies of their prey away?
* How far will beardies travel before residing in a certain spot?
* How long do beardies usually reside in one spot before going somewhere else?
* If I never find him, how will I be able to cope with the loss more?

I hope you can answer these. Right now I'm a pretty devastated mood. I hope you lot can help me out in the end.

 

[JayceeBuddy67]

I'm so sorry! Can you describe where you lost him? (Ex. Forest, neighborhood, ect.) Maybe put a heat lamp out and his favorite perch and food. Just keep looking for him!



I saw some of your other posts. Have you looked under the shed where he last was?

 

[Gst395]

I'm so sorry! Can you describe where you lost him? (Ex. Forest, neighborhood, ect.) Maybe put a heat lamp out and his favorite perch and food. Just keep looking for him!



I saw some of your other posts. Have you looked under the shed where he last was?

Yep, shined a torch under there, tipped it over again to get a clear look, nothing there. We even placed his old tank (complete with lighting and a bowl of veg) out there last night hoping for his return, still nothing.

He was last seen under some prickly bush, where he goes quite often while he is outside. The thing that boggles the mind is just how he could vanish like this, especially when he rarely attempts to leave the garden these days.

 

[JayceeBuddy67]

Does he have a favorite basking spot/hide? Does he have a favorite treat like bugs or fruit?

Info on cats: I have 4

Cats do tend to carry their prey away. If you have some in your neighborhood, and if you know who their owners are, check with them. See if they found a beardie at their door. Make sure to also check with surrounding neighbors. My cats will tend to drop their prey off at the door step. I hope you find him!

 

[Gst395]

Does he have a favorite basking spot/hide? Does he have a favorite treat like bugs or fruit?

Info on cats: I have 4

Cats do tend to carry their prey away. If you have some in your neighborhood, and if you know who their owners are, check with them. See if they found a beardie at their door. Make sure to also check with surrounding neighbors. My cats will tend to drop their prey off at the door step. I hope you find him!

Well like I say, it's usually under some prickly bush, though he does tend to move from there at times, but nowhere where he isn't spottable. His favourite food is usually cail or rocket salad.

As for cats, I suppose I could try that. Maybe my best bet is to put up posters on lamp posts, even outside my estate. Right now I'm most worried about him travelling up on the field, but I don't know if he would even travel that far.

 

[Gail]

Let any neighborhood kids/teens know he is on the loose and pass out your phone# so people can call you if they spot him. Maybe even offer a reward to the kid who finds him.

If something really frightened him, he could run a long distance and 30 yards really isn't that far. I know someone whose dragon went missing most of the summer only to be found by a neighbor a few houses away.

 

[Gst395]

Let any neighborhood kids/teens know he is on the loose and pass out your phone# so people can call you if they spot him. Maybe even offer a reward to the kid who finds him.

If something really frightened him, he could run a long distance and 30 yards really isn't that far. I know someone whose dragon went missing most of the summer only to be found by a neighbor a few houses away.

I've heard a few stories that they turn up unexpectedly after weeks, months even. From what I've read up, the temperature in Idaho seems more or less the same over here currently, so it's probable he'll survive for a good amount time wherever he is.

And good idea about informing local kids around, I think they will take notice if I put up some posters like I said. I've already put some through my neighbour's doors so they are aware, though I think I need to do more.

What I really want to know is, will he come out from whatever dark spot he's hiding in? Last time when he got lost under the shed he was under there for at least a day.

 

[stellar96]

I understand what you are going through. I lost my beardy for 11 days outside in similar climate. It is very tough and heartbreaking to say the least. Because the temperature is quite low, I assume that he did not wonder very far. He is probably curled up somewhere sleeping. Take a look near the house or garage where there might be some heat and darkness. I found mine under one of the multiple heat lamps I had set up. It was mid day (quite cold I might add) when my brother found him. I might also suggest putting your cricket keeper outside or some worms to draw him in. Crickets are LOUD in my opinion, so no matter how far he is away, it may catch his attention.

Good luck! Dont give up!

 

[cynikalkat]

OH NO! I hope you find him! Good luck!

 

[Gst395]

I understand what you are going through. I lost my beardy for 11 days outside in similar climate. It is very tough and heartbreaking to say the least. Because the temperature is quite low, I assume that he did not wonder very far. He is probably curled up somewhere sleeping. Take a look near the house or garage where there might be some heat and darkness. I found mine under one of the multiple heat lamps I had set up. It was mid day (quite cold I might add) when my brother found him. I might also suggest putting your cricket keeper outside or some worms to draw him in. Crickets are LOUD in my opinion, so no matter how far he is away, it may catch his attention.

Good luck! Dont give up!

I'm not going to give up...not yet. I'm going to give it a month at the most.

OH NO! I hope you find him! Good luck!

Thanks, it is devastating to say the least.

 

[Gst395]

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Euxton,+Chorley,+Lancashire+PR7+6FX/@53.674223,-2.674939,3a,75y,78.69h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1silxFhs4in2OEEU3KcLy6Sg!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x487b0d0d8bf82447:0x7165ec8df0b80cc2!6m1!1e1

If this comes in useful, here is my house on my street.



One thing I imagine he's done is crawled from under that gate (to the left of the house) and hid in some nearby bush.



As you can see here, there is a large field quite close by (it appears further away because of Google Maps' field of view). I fear he may have gone up there somewhere, where a good amount of bushes have grown all over.

What do you guys think? Would a beardie really travel that far?

 

[Gail]

I doubt he would travel that far with all the hiding spots between it and your house. Talk to you neighbors and start searching their yards, I bet he is relatively close but there are a lot of places to hide.
Get some friends or neighborhood kids to help.

 

[Gst395]

I doubt he would travel that far with all the hiding spots between it and your house. Talk to you neighbors and start searching their yards, I bet he is relatively close but there are a lot of places to hide.
Get some friends or neighborhood kids to help.

As of now, I've slipped posters through every door on my cul-de-sac, and stuck some on lamp posts inside on the estate and a few more in surrounding areas, so a good number of people will be aware by now. The weather hasn't been great today either, it's showing signs of wind and mild rain.

 

[Gst395]

Well, it looks like I got lucky again. Found him under a bush to the right of my house. So I guess that's the nightmare over...again.

Thanks for your support everyone, and hopefully I won't let this happen again.

 

[Gail]

Glad you found him. Get a harness and leash so you can tether him in the garden.