From the sadness of someone's passing, also emerges a story of life and communities working together to nurture that life. Marilyn Mears was recovering from the unexpected passing of her husband, Bill, a few months ago when she received another shock. Bill Mears, of Ontario, Canada, was an internationally known hobby breeder of inland bearded dragons. Noted for their personable nature and fondness for human companions this species, that comes from an area of central Australia, has become one of the most rapidly growing popular pets of the lizard species within the US. Bill was one of the early breeders of them, and also a highly respected source of information on their care in captivity in North America and Europe through his website Borderview Dragons.
When Bill passed away, Marilyn had worked quickly to place all of Bill's small colony of them with competent individuals, since she was not that knowledgeable about their care or needs. Once they were safely placed, she closed down the room that had been built off their home that housed them, turned off the heat to it and this became a storage area.
Imagine her surprise and then panic a few months after his death, when she went to store an item and saw several tiny faces peeping at her from several corners.
Babies of most species need special care, as they are usually fragile, and often need that care prior to birth or hatching. Mothers carry out that role or in the case of captive breed species, special breeders that are knowledgeable about them overseas that process. With species that are egg laying those include certain special incubators, temps, humidity, rotation (or lack of same) of the eggs over several weeks or months. These babies beat all the odds, when an entire clutch of 24 baby Australian Bearded Dragons not only hatched, but hatched in perfect condition, healthy and were found timely.
Marilyn contacted several of her husband's peers in other countries and with their advice, donations from individuals and Canadian suppliers for food, she was able to care for them until arrangements were made to get them to caretakers in the US. A volunteer working with the gracious cooperation of US Fish and Wildlife Services made arrangements to get them into the US and has transported them from Canada to New York by special arrangement for the border crossing. She is caring for them until they continue on to other locations that would raise and place them in their future homes.
Many individuals have contributed to the cost of their supplies and care to assure that they have the start in life. That was what Bill Mears felt all young dragons should have and what he donated so much time and information to. His legacy lives on in them and the community, along government agencies responsible for the well being of wildlife have cooperated together to achieve that.
Big thanks to the following:
CanadianFeeders.com - Donated crickets while they were in Canada ReptileFood.com - Donating crickets while in the US until they are placed in permanent homes
Janice Way- Supplements and pellets overnight to them.
And also a big thank you to those listed below who donated funds for their needs, furnishings and transportation/shipping:
Janice Way
Rob Talkington
H J Segota
Vicente Alves
Kristin O'Hanlon
Nancy Chretien
John Brookes
Cheri Smith
