Georgia is battling invasive, 4-foot-long lizards
Georgia is facing an issue with the invasive Argentine black and white tegu lizard, which can grow up to four feet long. These lizards are not native to the U.S. and have been spotted increasingly since 2018, particularly in southeastern Georgia. Wildlife experts are urging residents to report sightings to prevent the population from exploding due to a lack of natural predators.
- ▪The Argentine black and white tegu can weigh as much as 10 pounds and is known for its diet that includes eggs, small animals, fruits, and vegetables.
- ▪A single female tegu can produce around 35 eggs each year, leading to potential population growth.
- ▪Trapping and hunting tegus is legal in Georgia, but residents are advised to report sightings to the Department of Natural Resources instead of handling them directly.
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The Argentine black and white tegu can weigh as much as 10 pounds. Credit: Shutterstock / Jindrich Pavelka Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Email address Sign up Thank you! By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. Wildlife experts in Georgia are urging locals to keep on the lookout for any four-foot-long lizards wandering around the Peach State. As its name implies, the Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae) isn’t native to the United States, and it’s quickly becoming a nuisance.
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