Rare Giant Argentine Lizard Found Under Porch by Kids
A group of kids in Athens, GA stumbled upon quite the surprise while playing in their neighborhood: a three-foot-long lizard hiding under a woman's porch.
Argentine black and white tegus aren't exactly as common of a household pet as dogs or cats, though local authorities are still warning residents about the danger the invasive reptile presents to native species in Georgia. The state's Wildlife Resources Division is expressing concerns that tegus, which are native to South America, could "spread exotic parasites to native wildlife and cause bacterial contamination of crops," per CBS News. Like most reptiles, the agency pointed out, they can carry salmonella. As for how it got there, "it’s unclear if it escaped or was released, which is illegal," according to a statement.
In the past year, reptiles like Nile monitors, African helmeted turtles, Chinese softshell turtles, Argentine black and white tegus, and Indian rock and Burmese pythons have been listed as wild animals in Georgia. "This is definitely an example of why we need to regulate these species," Dr. Brett Albanese of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said. "They can be difficult to keep and as they grow their owners may not want to care for them or be able to afford to."
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The agency announced a Dec. 3 deadline for pet owners to tag and register six of the newly registered reptile species. Similar to getting your dog or cat microchipped, the animals will need to get a passive integrated transponder tag implanted. "Pet owners need to schedule with their vet as soon as possible," Albanese urged.
In cases like these, both caution and precaution are key.
