She’s found him in every part of her house 😂
One morning, Amia Niara woke up to an unexpected visitor—a small lizard lounging on her windowsill. She was used to tiny creatures sneaking into her home, but usually, it happened when the door was open, making it easy to guide them back outside. This time, she had no clue how this little guy had found his way in.
“He was really jumpy at first and would scurry away anytime I got near,” Niara recalled. “After a little research, I learned he’s an anole, a type of lizard that changes from green to brown when it feels stressed or threatened. When I first saw him, he was completely brown.”
Despite his initial nervousness, Niara soon noticed that the lizard seemed quite content indoors. Instead of shooing him out, she decided to let him stay.
“He wanders all over my house now,” she said. “I’ve spotted him in the closet, crawling through my clothes, hiding between shirts. He’s been in the kitchen, all over the utensils on the counter. I’ve even found him perched on a high ledge near the ceiling, inside my shoes, and hanging out in the shower. I definitely watch my step these days!”
Two months have passed since the tiny guest moved in, and Niara has grown fond of her unexpected roommate. She’s put him outside multiple times, but he always finds his way back in. Now, he comes and goes freely but never stays away for long.
She named him Mr. Gilbert Green Bean Cyrus, and he’s become much more comfortable in her presence. He no longer scurries away when she’s near and has been looking especially vibrant lately.
“He’s been super green, which means he’s feeling at ease,” she said. “One day, he was in the sink while my friend was washing dishes, and he just climbed right onto his hand.”
Niara never imagined sharing her home with a lizard, but Gilbert has made himself part of the family. Now, he’s welcome to stay for as long as he likes—hopefully, forever.