5-foot iguana found in Cottage Grove returns -- in traveling reptile exhibit

• Iguana

Romeo, a five-foot-long iguana that was discovered in Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park last August, returned to the city with Monty’s Traveling Reptile Show at Crestview Elementary and Nuevas Fronteras Friday afternoon. Bulletin photo by Jon Avise
• Students at reptile show

A group of Crestview Elementary School students keeps a close eye on a giant bullfrog during the reptile presentation. Bulletin photo by Jon Avise

Talk about it

A not-so-native creature that appeared in Cottage Grove last year made a return visit to a Cottage Grove school last week.

Romeo (shown above) a five-foot-long iguana that was discovered in Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park last August returned to the city with Monty’s Traveling Reptile Show at Crestview Elementary and Nuevas Fronteras Friday afternoon.

The show, which travels throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, and draws thousands of reptile fans to a show at the Minnesota State Fair each summer, typically charges schools $600. Romeo’s homecoming — of sorts — at Crestview was free, however, and drew squeals from the hundreds of students gathered in the school’s gym. A group of students (at left) keep a close eye on a giant bullfrog during the reptile presentation.

The iguana visit also came with a warning about owning exotic pets from the show’s presenters — authorities have said it is likely the iguana was set free or escaped from an owner unprepared to care for the large reptile.

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