A Georgia woman got an unexpected and frightening surprise when a giant lizard slipped into her home and hid beneath her couch.
The unusual visitor was an Argentine black and white tegus, an invasive reptile that can grow more than four feet long and has become a growing concern for wildlife officials in southeastern Georgia.
Lanell Oliver, who lives near Reidsville, Georgia, first noticed the large lizard lurking around her carport. She called her son and grandson to help remove it, but the animal managed to enter her house through the front door, which she had left slightly open.
The tegus eventually found its way beneath the couch where Oliver planned to sit and watch television.
“And that thing looked really huge to me, and it was because I’m four foot eight and it’s three and a half foot or something,” Oliver told WSB-TV.
Her son eventually found the reptile hiding under the couch and carried it outside by the back of its head. Her grandson, Paul Oliver, then shot and killed it.
“Well, I just figured it would be fun to catch him. I didn’t want no more of them,” Paul said.
The unexpected encounter was more than just a strange family story. It also highlighted a growing problem in Georgia, where Argentine black and white tegus have established a wild population and are threatening native wildlife.
Argentine black and white tegus.Photo by: Kike Calvo/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the invasive lizards have been found in Toombs and Tattnall counties. Wildlife officials are working to track and remove them before their population grows further.
Georgia’s Invasive tegus Lizard Population Raises Wildlife Concerns
Argentine black and white tegus are native to South America, including Argentina and southern Brazil. They are known for their dark bodies, white-speckled bands, forked tongues and long tails.
These reptiles can grow up to four feet long and weigh 10 pounds or more. Some males can reach around 20 pounds.
Although tegus do not usually attack people, their size and ability to survive in different environments make them a concern for local communities.
Georgia wildlife officials believe the reptiles may have entered the state through the exotic pet trade. One widely accepted theory is that pet owners released a male and female into the wild, allowing them to reproduce.
“Well, honestly, we think someone just released them here, released a male and female,” said Jim Gillis, a supervisor with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, during an interview with WSB-TV.
The state began investigating reports of wild tegus in 2018. Gillis said that up to 50 of the reptiles have been caught or killed in Toombs and Tattnall counties.
The animals have found Georgia’s environment suitable for survival because its terrain and climate are similar to parts of their native South America.
Their ability to reproduce quickly makes the situation even more difficult. A female tegus can lay more than 30 eggs in a year, with some reports placing the number at around 35.
Wildlife experts are also concerned that the reptiles could spread beyond their current areas. Tegus move quickly, swim well and can survive colder weather by entering a resting state during winter.
The biggest concern about the Argentine black and white tegus is its appetite.
According to Lance McBrayer, a herpetologist at Georgia Southern University who studies the reptiles, tegus eat almost anything they can find.
“They eat just about anything,” McBrayer said.
Their diet includes insects, small animals, fruits, vegetables, chicken eggs and other food sources. However, their appetite for eggs creates a serious threat to Georgia’s native wildlife.
Tegus can eat the eggs of ground-nesting birds, including quail and wild turkeys. They also prey on the eggs and young of other reptiles, including the protected gopher tortoise and American alligator.
These animals are important parts of Georgia’s natural environment, and the loss of their eggs and young could affect their populations.
There are also concerns about diseases and parasites. Experts warn that tegus may introduce parasites to native animals. Like many reptiles, they can also carry salmonella, which could create health concerns for people and animals that come into contact with contaminated surfaces, per People.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is asking residents to report sightings of Argentine black and white tegus, whether the animals are alive or dead.
People who spot one should take note of its location and photograph it if they can do so safely. Sightings can be reported through the state’s invasive species reporting system.
According to Southern Living, residents can also contact the Georgia DNR at (478) 994-1438 or email gainvasives@dnr.ga.gov.
The agency recommends several steps to make properties less attractive to the reptiles, particularly for people living in Toombs and Tattnall counties.
These include keeping pet food indoors, filling holes that could provide hiding places, and removing brush piles and other yard debris where tegus might find shelter.
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