Uptick in invasive tegu lizards reported in southeast Georgia, DNR says

TATTNALL, Ga. (WTOC) - A four-foot invasive South American lizard is showing up more often in southeast Georgia— and DNR says it could threaten native wildlife.

more often in southeast Georgia, more specifically Tattnall and Toombs County, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources says they need your help to dispose of them.

The animal is called a tegu, a large lizard native to Argentina and there’s been increase sightings of them in Tattnall and Toombs County. Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says they need the publics help to dispose of them.

DNR says tegus were first discovered in the region in 2014 and have been seen in the Toombs and Tattnall County area since 2018, including around the Reidsville area.

Senior wildlife biologist Daniel Sollenberger with Georgia DNR says reports have increased this year, though he says it is difficult to estimate how many are in the wild.

“There’s been an uptick this year,” Sollenberger said. “We don’t have an estimate for the number of animals. It’s very difficult to find one of them, much less count enough of them.”

Sollenberger said if he had to guess, tegus are still likely outnumbered by some common wildlife in Georgia but could be more plentiful than others.

“There’s probably more possums than there are tegus, but fewer coyotes [than there are tegus],” he said.

DNR says one of the biggest concerns is what tegus eat. Sollenberger says the lizards will raid nests and eat eggs from native ground-nesting birds such as quail and wild turkeys, along with turtle’s and their eggs and even alligator eggs.

“And that’s a big concern,” Sollenberger said.

He also says biologists are watching for another possible issue: invasive animals can sometimes bring parasites that native species are not equipped to handle.

“We haven’t found anything like this yet, but exotic animals often carry exotic parasites,” Sollenberger said.

Sollenberger pointed to Florida, where invasive ball pythons have been linked to a lung worm that has hurt native snake populations.

“It caused a collapse in certain kinds of snakes in Florida,” he said. “I think at this point like 13 species of snakes.”

With limited resources to remove tegus, Sollenberger says DNR needs help from the public. He said where it is legal and safe, people can remove a tegu by killing it and then reporting it to DNR.

“That is what we need people to do if we’re going to try to control or contain this infestation,” he said.

DNR says it believes tegus may have spread after being released or escaping from the exotic pet trade. If you see one, DNR is asking you to report it and include the location and a photo if possible.

Tegus have also been spotted in several counties across Georgia including South Carolina. To track where reported tegus sightings, click here.