lounging
lizard

Robert Gaister

News Reporter
robert@usnews.com

GOLDIE MacKinnon
has had to live with an
uninvited guest since
last summer.

As the West Vancouver resi:
dent put it, “he just) won't
leave.”

He is actually anit andi hap-
pens fo be missing its tail.

Iisa Wester Skink, which
is a lizard-fike animal common
onthe West Coast.

MackKinnon’s cat caught
the creature last summer and
brought: it into the house.
Distraughr, MacKinnen took it
out into ube garden. But the
next day, to her dismay, she
found it on her doorstep.

“He won't leave,” she said
of the stubborn lizard, which
has been there ever since.

According to Nature BC, a
guide book to the province's
wildlife, a Western Skink’s “tail
readily detaches when grasped
by a predator; in such instances
the detached til wiggles, pro-
viding a diversion which often
allows the tailless skink to
escape.” The guide adds the
tail grows back ina few weeks
time.

For some reason
Mackinnon’s lizard has lived
without a tail for several
months.

Tail or no tail the woman's
plight was real and when News
photographer Mike Wakefield
appeared cn her doorstep fast
Friday, he felt compelled to
offer'a helping hand.

Wakefield completed _ his
assignment, which called fora
picture of the skink, and took
the lizard with him. He still had
itin his possession to press ime
Tuesday.

“I plan to release it,
claimed the new pet owner.

Meanwhile, MacKinnon is
telieved to be rid of her prob-
lem. “He was a real nuisance”
she said.

”

Christraas. egestio
ROYAL DOULTON

1637 Lonsdale Ave, 1730 Marine Dz.
North Yancouver West Vancouver

Drop & shop
at Park Royal
Only Sait
Wiz Zone is offering
supervised play in our
computer learning centre
located in Park Royal South.
Drop in dates & fires
Dec 8 10am-9pm
Dec 10 10amépm
Dec 31 10am-9pm
Dec 12 10em-9pm
Dec 13 lamépm
Dec 14-19 t0am-9pm
Dec 20 lamSpm
Dec 26 10am-Spm

NEWS photo Mike Wakefield
WEST Vancouver's Goldie MacKinnon looks on from her doorway as the tailless
Western Skink relaxes on her porch. The lizard has made himself at home on her
doorstep ever since the MacKinnon cat dragged it into the house last summer.

Come help us light the
holiday season with

our spectacular display at
Park & Tilford
Centre / Gardens!

Friday, December 11th

Enjoy the sweet sounds of strolling carollers between 5 and 8 pm.

Sunday, December 13th
Children’s Entertainers “Laurel and Jan” will thrill kids and parents
alike. (1 pm-4 pm)
Plus ... Santa is in the Rose Room between noon and 4 pm to hear
Christmas wishes. Photos with Santa are by donation and don't
forget to enjoy some hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies with
the elves! :

All through the Season ...
You could win one of four great prizes (even a trip for two to
Puerto Vallarta) by unscrambling our Christmas Wish puzzle. 30
stores at Park & Tilford each have an elf with a letter on his chest.
Collect all the letters and solve the puzzle before December 23rd at
3 pm and you could win! Entry forms and details available at
participating merchants. No purchase necessity.

Shop & “Smell The Roses...

333 Brooksbank Avenue, North Vancouver
Save-On-Foods and Drugs * Cineplex Odeon ¢ Ed’s Linens

Wednesday, December 9, 1998 ~ North Shore News - 43

‘The most complete
ski and snowboard centre
on the North Shore.

987-7245
1625 Lonsdale Avenue, North Van
www.nssb.com
Parking at rear.

Jewelery
Wedding and
Engagement Rings

“48x Waitt & Yerow Gow
Eacte Rincs”

988-9215

441 West 3rd Street, North Vancouver
on Third Street, 1 block West of Bewicke

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TUNE-UP SPECIALISTS
AirCare - Gov. Certified #50222
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Award-winning AirCare
Technician available fo
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“Qur A0ih Year”

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176 Pemberton Ave, N. Van (5 biks south of Marine)