A 10-year-old boy brought 10 wall lizards from Lake Garda, Italy, to Cincinnati back in 1951. Fast forward 70 years, and the city now finds itself facing a growing population of these invasive reptiles. The common wall lizards, known as Lazarus lizards, have become a familiar sight on the streets of Cincinnati, with reports indicating that they are not only thriving but also increasing in size. Despite the Ohio Division of Wildlife officially declaring them as “permanent residents” in the city, it’s important to note that these reptiles are not native to the United States but hail from Italy.
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According to historical accounts, the young boy, George Rau Jr., along with his stepfather, Fred Lazarus Jr., who was the founder of the Lazarus retail store (later rebranded as Macy’s), released the 10 Italian lizards into their backyard upon their return to Ohio. In a revelation made in 1989 to the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History and The Cincinnati Enquirer, Rau Jr. confirmed the truth behind this local legend. Subsequent reports suggest that the entire lizard population in Ohio is believed to have originated from just three of the original 10 lizards brought over from Italy.
The lush greenery and hilly terrain in Cincinnati provide the perfect habitat for these creatures to thrive. Herpetologist Jeffrey Davis, who has been monitoring the lizards since the early 2000s, highlighted how the city’s landscape, featuring stacked-rock retaining walls in many old neighbourhoods, offers ideal conditions for their proliferation. Additionally, researchers have noted that Cincinnati’s climate bears surprising similarities to that of Milan, located approximately 70 miles west of Lake Garda, where the lizards were originally sourced.
As these Lazarus lizards continue to adapt to their urban environment over the decades, there are signs of evolutionary changes taking place. Eric Gangloff, a biology professor at Ohio Wesleyan University, and his team of researchers have observed that the lizards are evolving larger in size with longer limbs. This adaptation is believed to aid them in escaping urban predators, including house cats, which pose a threat to their survival in this new habitat. Gangloff’s findings shed light on the fascinating evolutionary responses exhibited by these non-native species in their efforts to acclimate to a different ecosystem.
The saga of the Lazarus lizards in Cincinnati serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human actions and the natural world. While the introduction of these reptiles may have been inadvertent, their thriving population underscores the resilience and adaptability of wildlife in the face of changing environments. As discussions around invasive species and their impact on local ecosystems continue, the case of these Italian lizards in Ohio offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics at play in our shared environment. The evolving story of the Lazarus lizards serves as a testament to the interconnectedness of all living beings on our planet, urging us to reflect on our role in shaping the world around us.