Georgia’s Argentine tegu invasion is making you the unwitting landlord of 4-foot lizards in your backyard.
Forget rising grocery prices for a second—Georgia homeowners now have a new, scaly threat eating into their property value. The invasive Argentine tegu, a voracious lizard that can grow up to four feet long, is officially spreading faster than a summer tick, and it’s already costing the state millions in wildlife control. Here’s the punch to your wallet: these cold-blooded squatters are burrowing under sheds, chicken coops, and even your home’s foundation, potentially causing thousands in structural damage. They’re also gobbling up native quail and turtle eggs—wildlife that hunters and eco-tourism rely on to support local jobs. If you think this is just a swamp problem, think again: tegus have been spotted in 19 counties, and the state just ramped up a $500,000 bounty program offering $5 per tail. But experts warn that’s a drop in the bucket. Want to avoid a $10,000 repair bill? Start sealing cracks in your slab foundation and locking up your garden vegetables—these guys love a free lunch. Georgia’s climate is an all-you-can-eat buffet for the argentine tegu invasive, and unless we foot the bill for aggressive trapping, your property taxes will.