Georgia Argentine Tegu Invasive: 5 Shocking Ways This 4-Foot Lizard Is Taking Over
- The Argentine black and white tegu has established breeding populations in at least 6 Georgia counties, with experts warning they can reproduce up to 35 eggs per clutch, turning backyards into reptile nurseries.
- These invasive giants are raiding chicken coops and pet food bowls with alarming boldness--recent social media clips show tegus walking through suburban patios in broad daylight without fear.
- Wildlife officials are deploying 'Judas tegus'--GPS-tracked lizards that lead trappers to hidden burrows, revealing that the species can survive Georgia's mild winters by hibernating underground for months.
- A single tegu can decimate local ecosystems by eating every available egg from ground-nesting birds like quail and turkeys, with documented cases of them killing gopher tortoises, a threatened species.
- The 'lazy lizard' myth is dangerous: tegus can run up to 20 mph in short bursts, and their powerful jaws have bitten dogs and humans who tried to catch them, leading to emergency room visits and a statewide bounty program offering $5 per tail turned in.