One day soon after the rescue got up and running, my mom calls me about a small lizard she had found in her work. It was lethargic and tiny, and she had scooped it up into a lidded coffee cup. I told her to bring it home and let me see what we could do. That evening when she came home, I realized she had brought me a Mediterranean House Gecko! These tiny geckos are considered an invasive species, though their impact on the environment has not been significant. They catch rides on imports, and the southern United States mimics their natural environment, which means they thrive here. Their only downfall? Aside from being a mildly invasive species, these flighty geckos love to take refuge on buildings where lights attract their favorite food: small bugs! This doesn't seem like an issue, until these critters end up inside houses and can be quite a sight for those who aren't a fan of sticky-toed house guests. The little guy from the Math Department on the Ole Miss campus was exposed to pesticides. After a good mist, some TLC, and some yummy bugs, he made a full recovery. However, he seemed to be enjoying his large enclosure, bug buffet, and the comfort of being a house gecko. Guppie is now a resident ambassador at the rescue and spends his days hiding in his bark or chasing pinhead crickets and fruit flies. 

Bearded dragons are often a favorite choice of reptile for many. Their dragonesque appearance, larger-than-life personalities, and silly behaviors draw people to them. Often, they are marketed as beginner pets in stores across the nation. However, this isn't really true. Read below to find out more about these awesome creatures!