How did Italian Wall Lizards end up in Topeka?

TOPEKA (KSNT) – If you’ve ever noticed lizards running around Topeka and wondered where they come from, you’re not alone.

They are Italian wall lizards. Their arrival in the area can be traced back to the 1950s to an exotic animal store on 21st and Gage. It isn’t known whether these lizards escaped or were set free.
But shortly after getting out, they began to populate all around Topeka.

Some people even caught them and spread them to places like Lawrence and Hayes.

“They do very well in town, and I think that’s good, probably for the environment overall,” said retired biology teacher Larry Miller. “Other things, do eat them. I do know there have been some experiments with trying to figure out how they do well in certain areas, how they don’t do well in other areas. You set them free in a more urban area, like a college campus. They’re going to multiply.”

The Italian Wall Lizard can be found in a few states and in Europe. But most notably, Topeka, Kansas, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Pompeii, Italy.

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