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Invasive And Illegal Dog-size Lizards Cause Chaos In South Carolina: Photos
Over 100 invasive lizards the size of dogs have been reported throughout South Carolina and are destroying the local ecosystem, including killing endangered species.
The Argentine black and white tegu has been causing havoc throughout the American South since it was first spotted in 2020.
The lizard can grow up to 4 feet long and is distinguished by its spotted scales and voracious appetite: Scientists say it eats just about everything in sight.
The Argentine black and white tegu was first reported in 2020 and has since continued to cause chaos in the South. Ralfa Padantya – stock.Adobe.ComIn the four years since its first sighting, the lizard has spread all the way to the Charleston mountains and Midlands in South Carolina.
However, state herpetologist Andrew Grosse said Friday there is so far no evidence that the lizards have been breeding, as reported by the State.
The lizards are primarily known for being kept as pets, with nearly 79,000 imported to the United States from 2000 to 2010 alone.
Many of the ones originally spotted in 2020 were either released or had escaped from captivity.
Since 2020, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has confirmed 32 sightings across 17 counties, Grosse said. Twenty-nine of these were the black and white tegu.
The Argentine black and white tegu is a popular exotic pet that can grow up to 4 feet long. South Carolina Department of Natural ResourcesThe SCDNR has received a total of 114 reported sightings across 27 counties, but has only been able to confirm those that provided a photo or resulted in the lizard's capture, Grosse said.
The state banned the black and white tegu over Memorial Day weekend in 2021. Anyone who already had a tegu as a pet was permitted to keep it so long as they registered it with the SCDNR, but couldn't breed it or bring more into the state.
An Argentine black and white tegu lizard in the grass in the Pantanal region. Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesThe ban, however, has apparently not been enough to stop their spread. The loose lizards have started to tear through the local ecosystem.
Experts have theorized that tegu owners are releasing them into the wild after they grow too large to manage, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The omnivore is not a picky eater and has gone after eggs, pet food, and even species endangered in the Palmetto State like grasshoppers and young gopher tortoises.
The lizards are primarily known for being kept as pets, with nearly 79,000 imported to the United States from 2000 to 2010 alone. APThe SCDNR has encouraged anyone who spots a tegu to contact the agency immediately and to send a photo if possible.
Residents are allowed to shoot the invasive reptile if spotted, but only if it is legal in their area.
The tegu is resilient and can withstand most cold weather thanks to its ability to raise its internal body temperature 50 degrees higher than the current climate.
The lizards are also set to brumate (mammals hibernate, reptiles brumate) soon, which makes them immobile for weeks as colder winter weather hits.
'Creepy Find': Port St. Lucie Couple Have Encounter With Tegu Lizard
Prev NextAs with many invasive species, tegus started as exotic pets.
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — For one Port St. Lucie couple, an afternoon drive to adopt their new dog "Rocket" turned into a unique wildlife sighting.
"It was really odd… it seemed like it could have been a snake," said Port St. Lucie resident Chris DeBona.
For Lisa and Chris DeBona, a drive down Palomino Road in St. Lucie County came with something they've never seen before.
"I didn't know what kind of creature it was. Somebody said it was like a baby alligator or monitor lizard," said Lisa DeBona.
As curious new Floridians, the couple went to the internet, posting a video to look for answers.
WPTV
Chris and Lisa DeBona.Amy Kight, executive director at the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, is all too familiar with the answer.
The mystery reptile is an Argentine black and white tegu lizard — an omnivorous invasive species native to Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina.
"They have a pretty decent bite, it can cause a lot of infection. We're talking about a reptiles mouth. I wouldn't mess with one unless you are skilled in handling one for sure," said Kight.
So how did tegus get here? The population initially started as exotic pets, but they continue to thrive in our tropical environment.
"They are an invasive species and they can do a lot of damage to the environment. They're taking up vital food sources for our native species. Sooner or later they're going to take over and we won't have our natives left," Kight said.
WPTV
A tegu lizard.Tegus can also pose a danger to smaller pets and animals.
"Generally, they're not going to go after your pets. However, if your pet corners one, it's going to protect itself," Kight said.
That's important information for dog owners like the DeBonas.
"They don't have lizards in Idaho, they have snakes and your western kind of wildlife out there. Definitely not tegu lizards or alligators or anything like that," said Chris.
He added: "It was a very unique, interesting, creepy find."
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Hundreds Of Dog-sized Lizards Are Wreaking Havoc In South Carolina
Hundreds of lizards the size of dogs are causing chaos in South Carolina.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) have issued a fresh warning about Argentine Black and White Tegu lizards that have been wreaking havoc in the state for years now.
They were recently spotted in Cleveland, Charleston and in the Midlands.
State Herpetologist Andrew Grosse said Friday that no evidence has been found that shows that the invasive lizards have been breeding, The State reported.
Grosse said the first Tegu was discovered there in 2020, and since then the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) have confirmed 32 sightings across 17 counties.
Of the 32, 29 were Argentine black and white tegu, while the other three were red.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources have issued a fresh warning about Argentine Black and White Tegu lizards that have been wreaking havoc in the state for years now
The agency received a total of 114 reports across 27 counties claiming to have seen the creature, but it can only confirm if there is an image of the species, or if it's captured, Grosse revealed.
The non-native lizards have specifically been invading the state's natural ecosystem and consuming quail, turkey, alligator and ground-nesting bird eggs.
They have also been feasting on gopher tortoises, fruit, vegetables, plants, carrion, small live animals, pet food, and chicken eggs.
Tegu have also been known to eat grasshoppers and young gopher tortoises, an endangered species in the Palmetto State.
The species have been banned in the state since Memorial Day weekend in 2021, making it illegal to bring the lizards there or breed them.
Despite the ban, people who own tegu as pets were allowed to keep their lizards, but had to get them properly registered with the SCDNR.
Although it is unclear why the species are still on the loose, experts believe that humans are possibly setting their pets free after they grow too large.
The invasive lizards that can grow up to five feet long, have been spotted in Cleveland, the Charleston mountains and in the Midlands
The non-native lizards have specifically been invading the state's natural ecosystem and consuming quail, turkey, alligator and ground-nesting bird eggs
Tegu can grow to about five feet in length, and this specific kind has distinctive black and white scales along its body.
They are not known to hurt humans, but are known as predators that feast on both plants and animals.
They are native to Paraguay, northern Argentina and eastern Uruguay, the outlet reported.
Compared to other lizards, Tegu can withstand the cold and can raise their body temperature 50 degrees above the current climate.
Around this time of year, tegus start to brumate, or settle down and not move for weeks on end in the colder weather.
There are wild tegus populations in Florida and Georgia.
Compared to other lizards, Tegus can withstand the cold and can raise their body temperature 50 degrees above the current climate
Rudy Mancke, a local naturalist who died last year, described how tegu lizards should be caught.
'You can take an old sheet and just throw it out in the air holding the ends, and let it just settle down on it, and that animal will just stay there until people come.
'It's hidden, figures nobody sees it. It's a great way to catch an animal. I've had good success with that. That's a safe way of doing it,' he said.
Mancke made it clear that the lizard should not just be picked up, because although their bite is not venomous, it can be extremely strong and painful.
The agency has urged anyone who sees a tegu to contact them immediately via phone or email, and send a photo if possible.
Residents are allowed to shoot the invasive reptile, but only if it is legal to do so in that area.
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