The invasion of a lizard species that’s the size of a dog has sparked concern as it wreaks havoc on ecosystems across the South. The 5-foot-long Argentine black and white tegu eats anything, explained Frank Mazzotti, Wildlife Professor at University of Florida. They devour quail, chickens, turkeys, gophers, turtles and ground-nesting birds. Their insatiable appetite poses a threat to native wildlife, and now the beast has spread to more states, including Florida, George, South Carolina, Texas, and even Maryland. "Because they can live in many more places and eat everything, there’s not going to be a whole lot that can stop them,” said Mazzotti. It’s not known precisely how many of these highly intelligent creatures are currently in the U.S., but there have been nearly 10,000 sightings since 2002. Another reason why tegus have been able to move so far north is because they can sustain their body temperature during different seasons. Tegus are the only warm-blooded lizards on earth, which means they can raise their body temperature up to 50º F above the ambient temperature. Florida and South Carolina outlawed the reptiles as pets in the spring of 2021, while Georgia banned any tegu not registered with the Department of Natural Resources before December 4, 2023.
