“Boy, was he stuck!”
Skink Rescue: How Coconut the Lizard Was Saved After Getting Stuck in Concrete
Last month, a homeowner made a surprising discovery on her front porch — a skink lizard stuck in a crack in the concrete, with only his tail and tiny legs visible. Unsure how long the poor lizard had been trapped and noticing he was struggling, she quickly called Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge for help.
Senior rehabber Shawnda Bentley rushed to the scene. “Lizards don’t usually get stuck like this,” she explained. “I thought he was just sunbathing, but when I arrived, it was clear — he was really stuck!”
Knowing the lizard was a skink, Bentley had to be very careful. Skinks can detach their tails as a defense mechanism when threatened, so grabbing the tail was out of the question. To avoid injury, Bentley and two other volunteers gently chipped away at the concrete crack with tools including a hammer, crowbar, and screwdrivers — and used a secret weapon: coconut oil to lubricate the skink and ease his release.
After nearly two hours, Coconut — as the skink was later named — was finally freed. “He bit me a couple of times right after, which I totally understood after his ordeal,” Bentley laughed.
Though safe, Coconut had injuries: he lost the tip of his tail and had a large belly wound that required urgent treatment. Experienced rehabber Linda Nichols from Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge took over his care, applying antibiotics and closely monitoring his recovery. Coconut had some trouble moving his back legs, raising concerns about possible spine damage.
Fortunately, Coconut responded well to treatment. His tail is regrowing, and he’s energetic and eating well. Nichols joked she now calls him “Jalapeño Coconut” because of his lively personality during treatment.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation explains that skinks can regrow tails lost to predators or accidents. The discarded tail often continues to wiggle, distracting threats while the skink escapes. New tails are shorter but fully functional.
Nichols believes Coconut’s love of chasing insects likely got him stuck — “he probably underestimated how big the second half of his body was.” Once healed, Coconut will be released back into his natural habitat, ideally near his skink “family,” where he can safely thrive.
This heartwarming wildlife rescue story highlights the patience and care involved in saving even the smallest creatures and the vital role of rehabilitation centers like Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge.