Invasive lizards that eat 'anything they want' invade Georgia

Tegu lizards could eat “murder hornets” for breakfast.

Tegus, the latest creature scare that appears in the form of a four-foot lizard and known to have a voracious appetite, have been sighted for the third straight year in Georgia. Biologists say the tegus, which established themselves in Tattnall and Toombs counties, likely originated in the state as escaped pets or were released into the wild.

There’s a good chance that tegus, also known as Satan’s Murder Lizard, are now established in Georgia. https://t.co/kQjEKb0Td3

— David Steen, Ph.D. (@AlongsideWild) May 14, 2020

“They eat just about anything they want,” said Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife biologist John Jensen in a recent video about the Argentine black and white tegu.

The lizard, which the DNR said many people mistake for baby alligators, poses a threat to protected native wildlife, including American alligators and gopher tortoises, the Associated Press reported. The black and white tegus have been documented using gopher tortoise burrows and eating tortoise and alligator eggs.

“Tegus will eat the eggs of ground-nesting birds — including quail and turkeys — and other reptiles, such as American alligators and gopher tortoises, both protected species,” according to the department’s website.

Forget murder hornets. Tegus lizards are posing a real risk to Georgia.https://t.co/z3X2OtghhV pic.twitter.com/zTN8MH2fxy

— WSB Radio (@wsbradio) May 14, 2020

The Orianne Society, an environmental conservation group, said in a Facebook post the lizards are “voracious predators.”

The department says the species are native to Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. The department says on its website tegus weigh about 10 pounds or more and live up to 20 years. They are black to gray with white, speckled bands across their bodies.

The reptiles have also been found in parts of Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

While they have not been a threat to humans and common household pets, Georgia officials are advising people against leaving pet food outside as it can attract the tegus to people’s homes.

The Orianne Society said the lizard “has the potential to spread rapidly.”

“Tegus seen in Georgia can and should be shot on sight,” their post said.

Tegus are actually very tame. We've had 2 of them for years. You can sit on the ground in their cage and they will crawl all over your lap. They are the puppy dogs of the lizard family. And yes, they enjoy back scratches. Meet Tank and Ellie. pic.twitter.com/xjb3r8rjcg

— Daniel A Fee (@DanielAFee1) May 14, 2020