The Legend of the Lazarus Lizards of Cincinnati
The City of Cincinnati, Ohio is home to all kinds of plants and animals, but there is one in particular that locals and tourists seem to question the most. The Lazarus Lizards.
Where did these little lizards come from? Why are they here?
As a local to Cincinnati, I got curious and I decided to do a little research. I was very surprised with what I found.
Cincinnati Has Local Lizards?
As you walk around the Cincinnati area, you may see lizards running around on the sidewalks and rock walls. My first experience with them was at the Cincinnati Zoo. I thought they were just free to roam inside the zoo. After asking around though, I found out that some Cincinnati natives call them Lazarus Lizards.
For starters, the lizards’ actual name is European Wall Lizard or Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis Muralis). They originate from rocky, warm areas of Europe like Italy and Greece. Despite this, the European Lizards are able to thrive in Cincinnati. But, how did they get here, and why do we call them Lazarus Lizards? It was to my own surprise that the famed Lazarus Family is to blame.
The Lazarus Family
The Lazarus family used to be pretty well-known throughout Cincinnati. They were known for their department stores, (Lazarus/Macy’s), until the early 2000s. The Lazarus family was to thank for how a lot of large stores function today. Fred Lazarus Jr. wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the early 1930s, asking if he could lengthen the holiday shopping season. Yes, you read that right. The Lazarus family is responsible for the now typical 2-month long holiday season (which most spooky people like me are not too thrilled with). Fred Lazarus Jr. also began the 'one-price policy' with shopping, which put an end to haggling in major retailers completely.
Not only did the family change retail forever, but they helped in the redevelopment of Over-the-Rhine, which is now a beautiful area in Downtown Cincinnati. The family also petitioned the city for easier transportation routes. That included the original streetcar, which we recently re-established as the Cincinnati Bell Streetcar. They also founded the Cincinnati Business Committee, which is still a large driving force downtown for local businesses. Mrs. Irma Lazarus was a huge supporter of the arts and culture here in Cincinnati. She conducted fundraisers for places like the Cincinnati Symphony and Playhouse in the Park. Without her, these places may not have been open today.
Where Did They Get The Lizards?
In the 1950s, Fred Lazarus III's stepson George Rau Jr., was on vacation in Lake Garda, Italy. He saw these lizards climbing all over the rocks. Little George loved these lizards, so he decided to bring a few back to Cincinnati with him. He shoved a few of the little lizards into his socks and hid them in his luggage. Next thing you know, they are in Cincinnati, Ohio.
At the time, the family lived in the Hyde Park/Walnut Hills area. George decided to let the lizards loose inside their garden, so that they could roam freely over the rock walls. I have recently read that they actually coined this area in Hyde Park as Lizard Hill. Some believe this story is just local folklore, but George Rau himself confirmed the story in letters and interviews.
Over the decades, people have tried to confirm this theory. There was a University of Cincinnati student in 2013 who conducted genetic tests on some of the local lizards. They compared the local lizards' DNA to the genetics of lizards in Europe. The genetics matched close enough to the European Wall Lizards to confirm George Rau's story.
Invasion of the Lizards
These lizards prefer living on hills with rocky terrain, which is why we see them mainly on rock walls. They eat mainly small insects like ants and worms. These lizards have shockingly thrived in Cincinnati for the past 70 years. Now, it has been estimated that there are over 1,000 lizards per acre in some areas of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
It is very interesting that these lizards, uprooted from such a specific location in Italy, to this specific location in North America, have been able to thrive so well, and not cause any kind of disruption to the ecosystem.
It is fun to see how the Lazarus family continues to make an impact on Cincinnati. The Lazarus Lizards have made Cincinnati more unique. If you are ever visiting Cincinnati, Ohio, keep your eyes out for the quick scurry of a lizard under your feet.
