Giant, exotic tegus are establishing breeding populations across southeast Georgia, posing a challenge to local agriculture and native wildlife as state wildlife officials and homeowners grapple with the expanding reptile presence.
The Tegu Takeover in Tattnall and Toombs Counties
South American tegus, which can grow to more than four feet long and weigh 20 pounds, have moved beyond isolated pet escapes into self-sustaining populations in rural Georgia. Jim Gillis, a supervisor with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, demonstrated trapping methods in Tattnall and Toombs counties, where the state agency has concentrated its removal efforts. According to Gillis, up to 50 tegus have been captured or killed across the two counties since the first sighting more than a decade ago.
In Georgia, it is open season on the black lizards with white speckled bands, allowing residents to legally euthanize the reptiles. While sightings remain concentrated in rural southeast Georgia, occasional encounters have occurred in metro Atlanta, which experts attribute to one-off releases or escaped pets.
Impacts on Ground-Nesting Wildlife and Native Ecosystems
The influx of South American tegus carries ecological consequences for protected native species. Lance McBrayer, a herpetologist at Georgia Southern University who is documenting the spread of the animals, maintains a collection of carcasses for research purposes. McBrayer noted that the lizards consume a diverse diet, actively targeting the eggs of ground-nesting birds as well as the protected gopher tortoise. Researchers are also monitoring the potential introduction of non-native parasites and diseases that could affect local fauna.
“They eat just about anything,” McBrayer said.
State officials believe the current population originated from someone who released a male and female into the wild. Because Georgia’s climate and terrain closely mirror the reptiles’ native habitats in Argentina and Southern Brazil, the lizards find suitable conditions to thrive. A single female tegu can lay more than 30 eggs a year, widening the scope of the state’s eradication challenge.
Homeowners Discover Lizards Near Residential Structures
Homeowners in the affected counties encounter the predators near residential structures. Lanell Oliver, a resident of an area outside Reidsville, discovered a three-and-a-half-foot tegu hiding under her couch after the animal entered her home. Her grandson shot the lizard.
Richard Smith, another local resident, reported shooting and killing two tegus in his yard after spotting them near his A/C unit and his chickens. State wildlife agencies continue to educate the public on the animals, encouraging property owners to euthanize the lizards whenever they are found.
