Invasive lizard that grows to 4 feet now ‘established’ in 2 south Georgia counties

An invasive Argentinean lizard known to grow more than 4 feet long has become “established” in at least two southeast Georgia counties, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

A tegu lizard was recently found in the Reidsville area of Tattnall County, marking the third year in a row a sighting has been reported in the state, according to the Orianne Society, a reptile and amphibian conservation group.

Georgia wildlife officials say the lizard is now believed to be established in parts of Toombs and Tattnall counties, two abutting counties about 200 miles southeast of Atlanta. The lizards have also been found in parts of Florida, but experts believe the Georgia population is linked to escaped pets that have somehow endured the cold winters.

“Many of the public that encounter these often report them, thinking that they look like a baby alligator well away from the water,” John Jensen of the Georgia DNR said in a YouTube video posted May 8. “They eat just about anything they want, plant and animal matter.”

This includes pet food left out by people, experts say.

The lizards, which live in burrows, are not considered a threat to humans. They live as long as 20 years and females can lay up to 35 eggs a year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Georgia officials want to “eradicate” the species from the state and are encouraging people to trap and kill them, if they can do so “safely and humanely.”

The Orianne Society, based in Georgia, says this marks the third year an adult tegus has “been trapped in the wild in southern Georgia,” according to a Facebook post. It says the species’ “fondness for eggs” makes it a threat to Georgia’s gopher tortoise and eastern indigo snake populations.

“These large lizards are voracious predators that have been found consuming a variety of native wildlife in the longer-established Florida populations,” the society posted.

“Georgia’s colder winters have often been hypothesized as a potential barrier for many invasive reptile species becoming established in the state. However, three years of captures strongly suggests that tegus are able to survive the colder winter in southern Georgia. The introduced tegu population is currently restricted to Tattnall and Toombs counties, but has the potential to spread rapidly.”

This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 9:39 AM with the headline "Invasive lizard that grows to 4 feet now ‘established’ in 2 south Georgia counties."