Would you hold up demolition for a reptile mate? This woman did!
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A heartfelt act by a NSW homeowner has captured the attention of locals, all thanks to an unusual friendship formed over the years.
As construction loomed, she took a bold step to protect something small—but very dear to her.
What happened next has left many Aussies both moved and impressed by her determination.
A spray-painted message scrawled across a suburban garage wall had tradies doing a double take recently—and when the reason behind it came to light, Aussies couldn’t help but applaud.
The bold red writing read ‘lizard under slab’ with a large arrow pointing at the ground beneath it. Underneath, the concerned homeowner had added a phone number in case the workers needed help.
It wasn’t graffiti, nor a prank. It was a desperate plea from a woman who had spent a decade on her Sutherland Shire property and wasn’t about to leave without doing everything she could to protect one tiny, cold-blooded friend.
During her 10 years living on the block in NSW, the woman had grown fond of a blue-tongue lizard that took up residence beneath her backyard patio. The lizard would occasionally emerge to sun itself, and over time, it became something of a backyard companion.
But when the home was sold to developers and the date of settlement was moved forward, she feared the lizard would be crushed under the concrete slab during demolition.
That’s when she rang local snake catcher and WIRES volunteer Tyler Gibbons, asking if he could help.
‘We went over probably three or four times to try and work out how to get it out,’ Gibbons said.
‘We did everything we possibly could. We put food out. We put some water underneath the slab, trying to get it to pop out…but no chance.’
The lizard hadn’t been spotted for about a week, likely due to the colder weather. Still, she was determined not to give up on it.
‘She had seen it probably for a couple of days before she first called me, but subsequently from then, she hadn't actually seen it and she was really worried about it getting crushed when they actually pulled down the house,’ Gibbons explained.
When Gibbons found out the demolition date had been brought forward and he wouldn’t have time to return in person, the homeowner took matters into her own hands—literally.
‘I couldn’t make it out because they called it early. And then she said “I’m going to spray paint the garage to make sure that they check before they actually pull apart the slab”,’ Gibbons recalled.
A photo of the makeshift warning later made its way online, where it sparked praise from Australians who admired the woman’s compassion and quick thinking.
Gibbons, touched by her dedication, made one more trip to the property to speak with the construction crew. Though the lizard still hadn’t been located, the team had taken the warning seriously.
‘They were a little bit cautious when they pulled that slab up and broke it up, just to see if it was there or not. They didn’t notice it but that’s probably a good thing,’ he said. ‘Hopefully, it had moved on because of all the vibration with the excavators. So you never know. Fingers crossed.’
Blue-tongue lizards are common in the Sutherland Shire, and Gibbons said locals tend to be quite protective of them.
‘You’d be surprised how many people are fairly passionate about their reptiles and what lives in their backyard. It’s almost like another pet that someone lives with on their property.’
As for the fate of the lizard? That remains a mystery. But thanks to one woman’s passionate efforts, it was given every chance to slink away safely.
It’s not just blue-tongue lizards finding themselves in danger when the diggers roll in—other Aussie wildlife face similar threats as backyards and bushland give way to new builds.
If you’ve ever worried about how native animals cope with demolition, this real-life rescue might strike a chord.
Watch how one creature was saved just in time.
Source: Youtube/Discovery Australia
Have you ever gone to great lengths to protect a creature living in your backyard? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Many seniors find great joy in attracting birds to their gardens, often seeing it as a peaceful way to stay connected with nature.
But just like with pets or pests, what seems like a kind gesture can sometimes cause more harm than good.
We covered a similar issue recently about the hidden risks of feeding local possums—another backyard visitor that’s easy to love but tricky to care for responsibly.
Read more: Think feeding possums is harmless? Here's what you need to know
As construction loomed, she took a bold step to protect something small—but very dear to her.
What happened next has left many Aussies both moved and impressed by her determination.
A spray-painted message scrawled across a suburban garage wall had tradies doing a double take recently—and when the reason behind it came to light, Aussies couldn’t help but applaud.
The bold red writing read ‘lizard under slab’ with a large arrow pointing at the ground beneath it. Underneath, the concerned homeowner had added a phone number in case the workers needed help.
It wasn’t graffiti, nor a prank. It was a desperate plea from a woman who had spent a decade on her Sutherland Shire property and wasn’t about to leave without doing everything she could to protect one tiny, cold-blooded friend.
Garage graffiti hides touching message to tradies. Image source: Shire Snake Wranglers
During her 10 years living on the block in NSW, the woman had grown fond of a blue-tongue lizard that took up residence beneath her backyard patio. The lizard would occasionally emerge to sun itself, and over time, it became something of a backyard companion.
But when the home was sold to developers and the date of settlement was moved forward, she feared the lizard would be crushed under the concrete slab during demolition.
That’s when she rang local snake catcher and WIRES volunteer Tyler Gibbons, asking if he could help.
‘We went over probably three or four times to try and work out how to get it out,’ Gibbons said.
‘We did everything we possibly could. We put food out. We put some water underneath the slab, trying to get it to pop out…but no chance.’
The lizard hadn’t been spotted for about a week, likely due to the colder weather. Still, she was determined not to give up on it.
‘She had seen it probably for a couple of days before she first called me, but subsequently from then, she hadn't actually seen it and she was really worried about it getting crushed when they actually pulled down the house,’ Gibbons explained.
When Gibbons found out the demolition date had been brought forward and he wouldn’t have time to return in person, the homeowner took matters into her own hands—literally.
‘I couldn’t make it out because they called it early. And then she said “I’m going to spray paint the garage to make sure that they check before they actually pull apart the slab”,’ Gibbons recalled.
A photo of the makeshift warning later made its way online, where it sparked praise from Australians who admired the woman’s compassion and quick thinking.
Gibbons, touched by her dedication, made one more trip to the property to speak with the construction crew. Though the lizard still hadn’t been located, the team had taken the warning seriously.
‘They were a little bit cautious when they pulled that slab up and broke it up, just to see if it was there or not. They didn’t notice it but that’s probably a good thing,’ he said. ‘Hopefully, it had moved on because of all the vibration with the excavators. So you never know. Fingers crossed.’
Blue-tongue lizards are common in the Sutherland Shire, and Gibbons said locals tend to be quite protective of them.
‘Lizard under slab’ plea sparks praise. Image source: Reddit
‘You’d be surprised how many people are fairly passionate about their reptiles and what lives in their backyard. It’s almost like another pet that someone lives with on their property.’
As for the fate of the lizard? That remains a mystery. But thanks to one woman’s passionate efforts, it was given every chance to slink away safely.
It’s not just blue-tongue lizards finding themselves in danger when the diggers roll in—other Aussie wildlife face similar threats as backyards and bushland give way to new builds.
If you’ve ever worried about how native animals cope with demolition, this real-life rescue might strike a chord.
Watch how one creature was saved just in time.
Source: Youtube/Discovery Australia
Have you ever gone to great lengths to protect a creature living in your backyard? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Many seniors find great joy in attracting birds to their gardens, often seeing it as a peaceful way to stay connected with nature.
But just like with pets or pests, what seems like a kind gesture can sometimes cause more harm than good.
We covered a similar issue recently about the hidden risks of feeding local possums—another backyard visitor that’s easy to love but tricky to care for responsibly.
Read more: Think feeding possums is harmless? Here's what you need to know
