Georgia’s Battle Against the Argentine Tegu: 5 Critical Facts on the Invasive Lizard Invasion
- The Argentine tegu, a South American lizard reaching up to four feet in length, is rapidly expanding its foothold in Georgia, posing a direct threat to local wildlife and native ground-nesting animals like gopher tortoises and quail.
- Unlike typical reptiles that retreat during winter, these tegus can lower their body temperature to survive Georgia’s cold months, giving the invasive species a year-round survival advantage and complicating eradication efforts.
- Wildlife officials confirm the lizards are now breeding in the wild across at least two Georgia counties, with sightings reported in Toombs and Tattnall Counties, signaling an established population rather than stray pets.
- The state has launched an intensive trapping and reporting campaign, urging residents to capture and submit photos of any tegu sightings to help track the invasion’s true scale and prevent further spread to other regions.
- Residents are warned not to handle tegus directly due to their powerful jaws and sharp claws, but are encouraged to report sightings immediately to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to slow what experts call a growing ecological crisis.