I threw a native anole out in the cold. Was I wrong?

[Baitball Blogger]

I came in from walking the dog and found him warming up under a glass baking dish I had pulled out of the oven to cool. The dish was on a trivet and the lizard seemed comfortable in his environ until I started to pick everything up to catch him. He even stopped on the top of the stove where there was still heat emitting from the burner, and tried to do a quick color change. But I was on to him.

I finally caught him and gently let him go outside in the English Ivy. It's around 61 degrees, and only afterwards, I wondered if I was doing him any favors.

[rocktivity]

1. It wasn't wrong unless it was helping you with your rent.

rocktivity

[csziggy]

2. They find places to over winter

I know even when it is below freezing anoles come out in the sheltered sunny spots to warm up. They still try to run in the doors when they can but inside they die of dehydration or the cat tortures them to death so I try to catch them and let them out.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. We have tons of them here, they find places to overwinter.

Favorite places seem to be under outdoor plant pots, or deep in the layers of bricks I use for garden borders,
and inside the carport cupboards.
Every spring lots of them are all over the deck, so I suspect yours will find a hidey hole when it gets too chilly.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Do you think 60 degrees is okay for one night?

He looked very healthy.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. It is been down to 36 here of late, I found 2 of them sunning this afternoon.

Yes, he will be fine at 60....and even colder.
They are dinosaurs, actually, and have lived this long by knowing how to regulate their body temperature in a wide range of degrees.
tho I imagine ours get a bit ...greener....from envy when postcards from So. Fla. arrive.