6-foot lizard on the lam in Colorado

Dino, a six-foot Nile monitor lizard, is on the loose in a Colo. community. / KKTV

(CBS News) WOODLAND PARK, Colo. - Authorities sent a reverse 911 call to residents of a southern Colo. community to be on alert for a six-foot-long lizard.

The pet Nile monitor lizard, weighing about 25 pounds, could be aggressive, though the owner told CBS Affiliate KKTV that the lizard he calls Dino is harmless.

The Teller County Sheriff's Office warned residents of the Woodland West, Westwood Lakes and Rosewood Hills subdivisions of the escape at approximately 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Neighbor Holly Liley told KKTV, "I'm not like super-super worried about it, but if I run into him I'd be pretty freaked out. We have a little dog, a little tiny terrier that goes out in our yard and so we're really worried about letting her out."

The owner, who asked not to be identified other than by his first name, Greg, said he's had Dino for five years and that while he's normally kept outside during the day, he somehow got loose - with his harness and leash still attached.

Greg said he understands why people may be fearful of the lizard, but said, "Even though they are strong, they look mean, they look aggressive, he's not an aggressive animal ... he's a very mellow lizard."

As of Tuesday morning police and animal control officials were still searching for the lizard.

[Verascity]

Exotics as pets: Lousy idea. Still, I hope the poor thing is found before some scardy-cat kills it.

[nohater]

shoot it, kill it. the owner should never have kept an exotic lizard in the first place. if that lizard were to show up on my property, would kill it some way.

[Verascity]

Well that's just silly. What are you afraid of?

[micmac666]

The animal received a death sentence when the owner acquired it. Pet ownership, exotic or otherwise, is for the insecure.

[rwsmith29456]

micmac said: "Pet ownership, exotic or otherwise is for the insecure." I'm not sure I understand what you mean by that.

[Valhalla0907]

Hope Dino returns home unharmed, and no one gets freaked out.!

[micmac666]

"Home" in Africa?

[ralphing]

Hambuger Man: Mr. Lizard!

[UForgotPoland]

OMG a rare animal! Kill it!

[MojitoMamma]

With the price of meat going through the roof, with all due respect, I'd cook him for dinner. (They taste like chicken, right?)

[AnnieDanny]

I'd be freaked out if something like that showed up in my yard! Harmless or no, that's a big lizard!

[lesserof2evil]

Yea, i'd be freaked out seeing a republican too.