Invasive Dog-Sized Lizards Are Spreading Across the Southeastern United States

[Judi Lynn]

The Argentine black-and-white tegu has made its way to the United States' southeast, and experts are warning about the harmful impacts it could have on the area's ecosystem.

According to National Geographic, the invasive, dog-sized lizards are native to South America but are now spreading to places like Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama, after being bred in southern Florida for over a decade.

Amy Yackel Adams, a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, told the outlet that the lizards were first brought to the U.S. as pets, however as some escaped or were released into the wild, they began to spread. Now experts say it's becoming a problem, as they can be particularly dangerous to endangered species in the area.

"The entire southeast portion of the United States is at risk," Adams told National Geographic. "Much of this area has a climate that is suitable for tegus."

More:
https://people.com/pets/invasive-dog-sized-lizards-tegu-spread-across-united-states/





You'll need a harnass for your tegu.







They start out small, to throw you off guard.

[msongs]

1. time to prohibit import of all non-native species? breeders and owners have

proved multiple times over they are not responsible enuff to own imported animals

[LSFL]

2. What do they taste like?

I'd give it a go.

[Layzeebeaver]

7. Chicken Tonight! nt.

[ChazInAz]

13. The shoemaker in me

Says "Interesting leather!"

[LonePirate]

3. I wonder if the invasive pythons would eat these lizards.

[underpants]

8. Lizards snakes and gorillas

[SheltieLover]

4. OMMFG!

[Sedona]

5. Okay 2020, I give up

[flibbitygiblets]

6. Now we have tiny dragons roaming the US

How totally 2020

[UserNotFound]

9. Cool looking critters!

But problematic. It's infuriating to me that people are not more responsible when ridding themselves of these exotic pets.... The South, in general, has enough problems without having to deal with another invasive species...

[Shermann]

11. Maybe the tegus will eat the kudzu nt

[hatrack]

14. "Be free, little python/tegu/snakehead/lionfish/rhesus monkey!!"

It's not getting any smarter out there.

[central scrutinizer]

10. Wait til they spread to the nuclear test sites in Nevada

[2naSalit]

12. Then we'll have...

Many Godzillas to deal with all at once!