BENTON, Ill. - It wasn't bass or bluegill Robert Thomas was looking for as he cast his fishing line into Lake Moses near this southern Illinois town Monday. It was a 6-feet-long, 20-pound Asian water lizard named Joanna.
"She's here somewhere, and I'm gonna get her," said Thomas, 42, as he stood on the shore of the small, private lake the reptile has called home since escaping from her owner's backyard June 18.
Although people who fish or pass the bucolic lake have reported seeing the creature poke its head out of the murky water or scamper along a shoreline road, no one has been able to catch it.
Thomas, an avid fisherman, came closer than anyone Friday, when he said Joanna bit his fishing line and held on for four hours.
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"She's here somewhere, and I'm gonna get her," said Thomas, 42, as he stood on the shore of the small, private lake the reptile has called home since escaping from her owner's backyard June 18.
Although people who fish or pass the bucolic lake have reported seeing the creature poke its head out of the murky water or scamper along a shoreline road, no one has been able to catch it.
Thomas, an avid fisherman, came closer than anyone Friday, when he said Joanna bit his fishing line and held on for four hours.
Want to learn more?
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...6&e=7&u=/ap/20030715/ap_on_fe_st/loose_lizard