Escapee advice

[USSTrioceros]

Need some assistance. Two of my chameleons bolted today when I took them outside. I had let them sit on plants in the sun while I got their aviary positioned. I realized later the airport flight path was adjusted directly over the house and had probably freaked them out. Anyway, hard lesson is being learned right now. I found one guy with the help of my cat. I am still looking for one.

For folks who have experienced this, where did you look? I've been looking for hours now. How long did you look before you gave up? I've looked behind things, looking up in trees and up any cords/rough sticks, on the chicken wire of our chicken run, in the rafters of the porch. Our grass is insanely high because we let the native grasses go to seed, so I've been combing waist high grass and seeing if he's on top or under. Been watching bird behavior because the Magpies are feeding their babies and I don't trust them.

Good news: if this goes overnight, our temps won't hurt him. I'll get up arly and see if he comes out to sun.

Bad news: I've been looking for about 6 hours now. We're on 10 acres.

Any advice is welcome. Please be kind. It's been 2.5 years and this is the first time this has happened.

 

[kinyonga]

Try looking at night with a flashlight in the trees. The body colours are usually paler and stand out more while they are sleeping.

Good luck…it won’t be easy.

 

[USSTrioceros]

I will try that. My housemate is on her way home, too. I'll have another set of eyes.

 

[kinyonga]

One more thing…look near the ends of branches.

 

[USSTrioceros]

Thanks for the tip.

 

[kinyonga]

I hope you find it! It’s going to take a lot of luck!

 

[USSTrioceros]

SUCCESS! After 3 yard searches since 6am, I found him warming up on a branch. I'm so happy. He seems ok and a little disappointed to be back in his enclosure. Lol

 

[MissSkittles]

You are extremely lucky! In addition to everything else, he could have very easily become food for a predator. It has very sadly happened before that chameleons have been grabbed by hawks, even with their humans nearby.

 

[USSTrioceros]

You are extremely lucky! In addition to everything else, he could have very easily become food for a predator. It has very sadly happened before that chameleons have been grabbed by hawks, even with their humans nearby.

Yeah. He usually stays on his plant until I get the outdoor enclosure ready. With all the little planes flying over, I think he just scootched to safety. I find them annoying but I know what they are. My guys don't. I am also glad our resident owl moved to another nest and the hawks were busy elsewhere. Bonus: wind storm hitting tonight. Glad it wasn't last night.

 

[Lucas00-]

SUCCESS! After 3 yard searches since 6am, I found him warming up on a branch. I'm so happy. He seems ok and a little disappointed to be back in his enclosure. Lol

Super happy you were able to find your babies!

 

[Jikkermanccini]

we need pics of your Houdinis! Mugshots!

 

[Carlton]

Wow, that was a lucky break!

Lesson learned: never, never, NEVER take your eyes off a cham placed on an outdoor plant! NEVER! Their whole approach to life is to be sneaky and disappear. They can move faster than we expect when they want to and be gone in a flash. Chances are, your chams had scoped out a taller more secure tree than the one you put them in and were plotting how to reach it the entire time. Their chance came and they took it. Sadly, this happens all too often.