First came the Murder Hornets. Now, Georgia is on the lookout for another invasive – and more than a little creepy – critter.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is warning that an invasive species of giant lizards known as the Argentine black and white tegus has established itself in the state. Tegus, which can grow up to 4-feet long with a weight of 10 pounds or more, eat bird eggs, other reptiles, fruits, vegetables, plants, pet food and live animals, from grasshoppers to young gopher tortoises, officials said.
Tegus “eat just about anything they want,” state biologist John Jensen said in a video from DNR.
“One of their favorite foods is eggs from ground-nesting animals such as gopher tortoise — our protected state reptile. Birds, including turkeys and quail,” he said.
Native to South America, tegus are black to dark gray with speckled bands across their backs and tails. They can live as long as 20 years and, according to officials, are “strong swimmers” capable of staying underwater for extended periods. They have few predators and can multiply quickly – a female can lay about 35 eggs a year.
It’s not known how they arrived in Georgia but it’s believed they were likely captive animals that escaped or were released.
The reptiles have been spotted in Toombs and Tattnall counties, where teams are working to track and eradicate them. People are asked to contact DNR if they see a tegus in the wild, whether it’s alive or dead. As non-native species, tegus in the wild are not protected by wildlife regulations or laws and can legally be trapped or killed, officials said.