Lovin’ lizards

Panther chameleon DAVID SUSSMAN / COURTESY PHOTO

From a very young age, Kory Kossick was fascinated by reptiles, especially lizards.

Kory’s mom, Julie Kossick, said, “His (step)father brought home a male and female bearded dragon and, lo and behold, the female got pregnant. They bought all the equipment (incubator, etc.) and started the whole process from conception to birthing (hatching) of the eggs.

“It was really cool to see Kory take care of the eggs, he checked on them all the time and never lost interest during the entire process — which had to be two to three months.”

“I loved my bearded dragons and caring for them,” Kory said. “But the passion came from the lizard eggs. It was so exciting to watch the eggs mature, watch them grow and ultimately bring life into the world.”

“When the eggs started hatching,” Julie recounted, “we had all these baby lizards and it’s like, ‘OK, now what?’”

Today, Kory’s passion for lizards continues, and reptiles have become a family affair: Kory, Jenna and their 2-year-old son, Kolson, have a thriving lizard sanctuary called Florida’s Finest Reptiles, where they care for the sick, injured and cast off.

The Kossick family (Kory, Jenna and Kolson) with their panther chameleons. DAVID SUSSMAN / COURTESY PHOTOS

Kory (usually with assistance from a friend and a co-worker) goes in search of invasive lizards in the wild to bring home. Jenna cares for them, ensures that their new environments are fresh and healthy and provided with appropriate food for their species, while little Kolson helps with socialization. When the females become pregnant, Jenna watches over the mothers in the “maternity ward” and then cares for the eggs until maturity.

All chameleons and all but one gecko species are not native to Florida; they are invasive reptiles from Africa, Madagascar and parts of Asia and Europe. All species of chameleons in Florida were brought to the United States in the pet trade. Because they are not native, it is OK to take them out of trees and flora; they are not protected here. However, if you catch one, you can’t put it back since it’s illegal to release them into the wild.

Male and female leopard geckos.

Kory searches out invasive species and brings them home to care for them and — he hopes — to find them good homes in which to live.

“Lizards have some amazing characteristics,” Kory said. “Their scaly skin and long tails make them stand out. They’re cold-blooded and can even regenerate limbs. They come in all different sizes, from tiny geckos, chameleons, bearded dragons to huge iguanas.

“Most lizards lay eggs, but some give birth to live young, like the Jackson’s chameleon. They’re social creatures and communicate with head bobs, pushups and tail flicks. I never get tired of watching them!

“Today I have veiled, panther and Jackson’s chameleons, plus crested, gargoyle, leopard and tokay geckos, a bearded dragon, spider ball python (small, not invasive) — all in the reptile family.”

Here are a few fun facts and photos about the Kosssicks’ non-human family members:

Veiled chameleon with a worm snack.

• Bearded dragons are lizards from Australia. They have scaly bodies, broad heads with spikes that look like beards, and tails that can reach two-thirds of their body length. Also, they can change their skin color based on their environment, mood or temperature. Due to their friendly demeanor, permanent smiles and idle nature, they are commonly kept as pets around the world.

• Chameleons are special creatures due to their ability to change color. They have long tongues to catch insects, prehensile tails for gripping branches, and great climbing skills. On top of that, their eyes move independently of each other, giving them 360-degree vision. The three most popular chameleons are the veiled, panther and Jackson’s.

• Jackson’s chameleon, also known as Jackson’s horned chameleon (the males have three horns), is native to Kenya and Tanzania. What stands out about these reptiles is that they have a personality and can even recognize their owners. Plus, they perform unique behaviors like head-bobbing, arm-waving and beard-puffing that show different emotions.

They also give birth to their young instead of laying eggs.

• Panther chameleons are from Madagascar’s tropical rainforests. They are captivating pets and known for bright and varied coloration that they change based on temperature or mood. Their sticky, spring-loaded tongue can be launched one-and-a-half times their own body length to capture prey.

• Veiled chameleons are native to Yemen and Saudi Arabia. They are green with colorful markings and have a line of fringe that runs from under their mouths along the underside of their bodies. Their most unique characteristic is the casque (helmet) on top of their heads, which are bony protrusions that look somewhat like a shark fin. These casques are used to collect water.

• Geckos are small, mostly carnivorous lizards that have a wide distribution, found on every continent except Antarctica. Again, all but one, the reef gecko, are invasive to Florida. What makes them different from other lizards is that they lay eggs in pairs instead of larger clutches.

• The cute crested gecko comes from the island of New Caledonia. They enjoy some handling, especially the freedom to roam around on your hand or arm. They are docile and easy to manage. This type of gecko is a good family pet.

• Gargoyle geckos are found only on the southern end of the island of New Caledonia and get their name from the cranial bumps that give the appearance of horns or ears. They can propel themselves almost three times their body length to reach a vine or tree branch. Another fun fact: They have a thin, prehensile tail that will regenerate if it drops off.

• Leopard geckos are the most well-known of the pet geckos. This pet lizard originates in the Middle Eastern countries of Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and India. Leopard geckos are yellow with black spots. They are known as very hardy and calm pets.

• Tokay geckos are from East Asia and are a beautiful species of gecko, boasting bright orange spots over gray or aqua scales. The name comes from the “barking” sound males make when attracting a mate. Tokay geckos have a reputation for being aggressive and having very strong bites. e

Th next step for the Kossick family is to expand and open a separate facility for their reptiles closer to Kory’s “day job” as owner/CEO of OnTech Repair. They will move away from “catch and care” at his house to a reptile conservation facility in downtown Punta Gorda, in order to have a larger space to care for injured, sick or unwanted reptiles caught in the wild.

This is necessary to keep invasive species, such as chameleons and geckos, from nature — or at least to minimize their presence.

“Florida’s Finest Reptiles focuses on a family experience when bringing a new reptile into your home or office,” Kory said. “We can help answer any questions you might have before taking the reptile plunge.”

The Kossicks demonstrate that there’s a lot to love about lizards.

Think of their popularity in the media, such as in the animated, Johnny Deppvoiced “Rango,” featuring a chameleon as an unlikely sheriff. And, of course, there’s the famous Geico gecko.

Stay tuned for the Florida’s Finest Reptile conservation facility, so you can appreciate them up close yourself. ¦

The post Lovin’ lizards first appeared on Charlotte County Florida Weekly .