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African lizard found inside trash can in Pennsylvania small town: ‘Fairly good condition’

Source image: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/african-lizard-found-inside-trash-can-pennsylvania-small-town-fairly-good-condition

An exotic lizard was abandoned on the side of a Pennsylvania road earlier this month, but now he has a new home and a name.

Oscar, the Savannah monitor, was reportedly found inside a trash can in Carlisle Township by a delivery driver before being brought in to the Speranza Animal Rescue in Cumberland County.

The nonprofit rehabilitation center and sanctuary admitted in a Facebook post that the organization didn’t have any volunteer staff members who are “experienced with lizards.”

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“We will be looking for a rescue to take this guy in,” Speranza Animal Rescue wrote on Wednesday, May 10.

Oscar, the Savannah monitor, lounges on stone tiles on a sunny day.

Oscar, the Savannah monitor, was reportedly found in a trash can on the side of Pennsylvania road, according to a Facebook post shared by Speranza Animal Rescue on May 10, 2023. (Rudy Arceo/Venom Institute)

The Speranza Animal Rescue temporarily named the abandoned mystery lizard “Monster,” but that all changed when he was placed with the Venom Institute, a nonprofit reptile and amphibian conservation group located in Coal Township, Pennsylvania.

“A volunteer dropped off the lizard to one of our directors and it was in fairly good condition,” Rudy Arceo, founder and president of the Venom Institute, wrote in an email to Fox News Digital.

“[Oscar was] a bit dehydrated but was also a bit overweight just based on visual appearance,” he continued.

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Arceo noted that the lizard’s scientific species name is Savannah Monitor Varanus exanthematicus.

Oscar, the Savannah monitor, lounges on a bed of soil with little greenery.

Oscar, the Savannah monitor, found a new home with the Venom Institute, a nonprofit reptile and amphibian conservation group located in Coal Township, Pennsylvania. (Rudy Arceo/Venom Institute)

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“They are native to West and Central parts of Africa, south of the Sahara,” Arceo wrote.

At the time of publication, Oscar’s length is somewhere between 18 and 24 inches, according to Areco.

“They can reach lengths of 2.5 to 4 feet and live 15 to 20 years in captivity with excellent care and husbandry,” Areco explained. “Their primary diet is insects and occasionally [they] seek meat as [a] supplement.”

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Side-by-side photos of Oscar the Savannah monitor as he lays down on stone tiles and a bed of soil.

Oscar, the Savannah monitor, will become an animal ambassador for education purposed at the Venom Institute. Savannah monitors are a midsize lizard native to Africa. (Rudy Arceo/Venom Institute)

He added, “Once out of a 30-day quarantine Oscar will become an educational ambassador for our outreach education division of Venom Institute.”

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Fox News Digital reached out to Speranza Animal Rescue for comment but did not receive a response.

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/african-lizard-found-inside-trash-can-pennsylvania-small-town-fairly-good-condition

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Lifestyle

Sunday brunch frittata featuring garden-fresh vegetables: Try it this weekend for family and friends

For many American families, the arrival of Sunday is the time to slow down a bit, attend church services, catch a sporting event, work around the house or visit with family and friends. 

Another quintessential part of the day for millions of people is enjoying Sunday brunch

If you’re looking to create a budget-friendly Sunday brunch dish with a bit of flair for your family and friends, a chef based in Philadelphia shared his choice pick that you can make at home. 

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Use this shopping list and step-by-step guidance to whip up a tasty homemade Sunday brunch dish without much fuss or muss.

Let’s dig right in!

‘Everything but the Kitchen Sink’ Frittata by Thomas Harkins of Bank & Bourbon, Loews Philadelphia Hotel

If you have leftovers you’re looking to repurpose, this Sunday egg-based dish could be a winner. 

Thomas Harkins, executive chef, Bank & Bourbon — located in the Loews Philadelphia Hotel in Philadelphia — recommended making his “Everything but the Kitchen Sink Frittata.” 

eggs cracked into bowl

You’ll need 12 whole large eggs for this Sunday brunch recipe from Thomas Harkins. To start, whip the eggs in a bowl and set them aside.  (iStock)

He told Fox News Digital that he loves making this on Sundays using leftovers from the night before — and anything from his garden that he has on hand at the time.

Ingredients

12 whole large eggs

2 tablespoons butter

Corn shucked

Tomatoes, medium-diced

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Green beans chopped

Green bell peppers medium-diced

¼ cup salsa, store-bought

Leftover protein, usually steak or chicken or salmon, medium-diced

¼ cup cheese (the chef usually has goat cheese or cheddar cheese on hand)

Different kinds of peppers

This Sunday brunch recipe calls for green bell peppers — as well as other healthy vegetables and ingredients.  (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Directions

In a 10-inch nonstick pan on medium flame, add butter until it melts and coat the pan.

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

Whip eggs in bowl and set aside.

Add all of the vegetables and the pick of proteins that you have on hand and want to use.

Cook until hot on the stovetop all the way through. 

Add beaten eggs. 

Stir in with mixture to incorporate. 

chef Thomas Harkins

Thomas Harkins is executive chef of Bank & Bourbon at Loews Philadelphia Hotel. The historic hotel is across from the Pennsylvania Convention Center and located in the heart of Center City, within walking distance of the Reading Terminal Market, Independence Hall, Philadelphia Museum of Art and Barnes Foundation, among other popular attractions.  (Loews Philadelphia Hotel)

Place in oven and cook for 10 to 15 minutes until eggs set. 

Add cheese on top and melt. 

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Take out and gently place a 12-inch plate on top and invert it to get the frittata on the plate. 

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Top with your favorite salsa — and cut into 8 pie-shape pieces. 

Enjoy!

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Underage drinking dangers: These are the states with the highest rates of teen alcohol use, study finds

A new study done by addiction recovery resource Addiction Treatment Magazine has revealed the states that have the highest and lowest prevalence of underage drinking.

Researchers looked at the number of young people between the ages of 12 and 20 who had consumed an alcoholic drink within the last month and had participated in binge-drinking, which is classified as consuming four or more drinks in one sitting, according to a press release on the publication’s website.

The data was drawn from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) based on the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

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The study determined that the state of Vermont has the highest prevalence of drinkers between the ages of 12 and 20 in the U.S., according to the release.

Nearly 25% of minors in the state had consumed alcohol, and more than 14% had participated in binge-drinking. 

Teens drinking

A new study has revealed the states in the nation that have the highest and lowest prevalence of underage drinking. (iStock)

Other states with high rates include Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.  

In Rhode Island, nearly 22% of young people between the ages 12 and 20 consume alcohol monthly, and 12% of minors consume four or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting, the study found.

In New Hampshire, 20.6% of people between the ages 12 and 20 had consumed alcohol in the last month. 

The share was 20.4% for Massachusetts. 

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Rounding out the top 10 are the states of Oregon, Iowa, Wisconsin, Colorado, Maine and North Dakota.

At the other end of the spectrum, Mississippi has the lowest prevalence of underage drinking, with only 9.7% of underage people consuming alcohol. 

It also has the lowest binge-drinking rate, at only 5.4%, according to the study. 

College drinking

One possible reason that Vermont has topped the list is that it is a rural state with many colleges and universities — the highest number per capita of any state — said a clinical director of addiction services.  (iStock)

Utah is the second-lowest, at 11% for alcohol consumption and 6.8% for binge-drinking among the underage population. 

Coming in at third lowest is North Carolina, where 11.3% of underage people consumed alcohol in the last month.

Alabama is also on the lower end at 12%, followed by Arkansas at 12.3%.

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Rounding out the lower 10 are Indiana, Georgia, Idaho, Tennessee and Texas. 

“It’s no secret that underage drinking is a major concern in the United States, as it can pose several significant risks to the well-being of young people, including health risks, impaired judgment and the risk of dependency and addiction,” said a spokesperson for Addiction Treatment Magazine in the release.

Teens drinking

Overall, the findings indicate that the use of alcohol in young people continues to be a concern, said Tuell of the Lindner Center of HOPE in Ohio. (iStock)

“These findings provide an intriguing insight into where underage drinking is the most prominent throughout the country, with Vermont coming out on top. While progress has been made in reducing underage drinking rates, it is still a matter of concern, and ongoing efforts are necessary to address this issue and protect the health and safety of young people,” the spokesperson continued.

Dr. Chris Tuell, clinical director of addiction services for the Lindner Center of HOPE in Ohio, was not involved in the study, but said he wasn’t surprised by the findings.

“A parent’s position on underage drinking is paramount and is one of the strongest protective factors against underage drinking.”

“The Northeast has had a history of higher rates of underage drinking for the past 20 years,” he told Fox News Digital in an interview. “There continues to be no definitive reason why these rates are the way they are.”

One possible reason for Vermont’s topping the list, he said, is that it is a rural state with many colleges and universities — the highest number per capita of any state.

young people drinking beer outside

“The research is crystal-clear that early alcohol use before the age of 15 raises the risk of lifelong problems of addiction and alcoholism,” warned Dr. Chris Tuell, clinical director of addiction services for the Lindner Center of HOPE in Ohio.  (iStock)

Overall, the findings indicate that the use of alcohol in young people continues to be a concern, Tuell said.

“The research is crystal-clear that early alcohol use before the age of 15 raises the risk of lifelong problems of addiction and alcoholism,” he warned. 

“Early alcohol use — drinking at age 14 or earlier — [means a] 7 times greater risk for developing an alcohol problem than someone who begins drinking at age 21.” 

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Other possible reasons for the high rates in some states may be related to how the packaging of alcohol is geared toward youth, such as flavored drinks, and the association of alcohol use with sporting events, the expert noted.

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“This promotes alcohol use in young people as a necessary part of having fun,” Tuell said.

“A parent’s position on underage drinking is paramount and is one of the strongest protective factors against underage drinking,” he also said.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

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Coffee quiz! How much do you know about the can’t-live-without-it drink?

National Coffee Day is September 29 — and millions of people have recognized the special occasion. 

But no matter what day it is or what season of the year, how well do you know the popular drink that many people consume all year long? 

Test your knowledge in this fun and engaging lifestyle quiz all about coffee!

Mobile app users: Click here to play the quiz!

Have you taken our fall quiz yet? Click here to play it!

To take even more quizzes from Fox News Digital, click on this link.

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