Argentine black and white tegu (Dustin Smith)

Wildlife Watch: Be on Lookout for Tegus

Going hunting or fishing this fall in Toombs, Tattnall or a neighboring county?

Keep watch for tegus and let Georgia DNR know if you see one of the big South American lizards—alive, dead or on a game camera. Four have been killed this year, and more seen.

Need to Know

• In late summer and fall, tegus will be more active before they retreat into burrows for brumation, or reptile hibernation. Brumation will begin as early as October.
• DNR is working with residents and other partners to remove a wild population of Argentine black and white tegus in this part of southeast Georgia. The population, likely started by escaped or released pets, poses a threat to native wildlife.
• Argentine black and white tegus will eat the eggs of ground-nesting birds such as quail, turkeys and whip-poor-wills, and of other reptiles, including alligators and gopher tortoises. Tegus will also eat chicken eggs, fruit, vegetables, plants, pet food and small animals.
• There are concerns that tegus will spread exotic parasites to wildlife and cause bacterial contamination of crops. Like most reptiles, tegus also can carry salmonella.
• As a non-native species, tegus in the wild can be trapped or killed on private property with landowner permission and in accordance with animal cruelty and local ordinances. Reporting sightings helps DNR gauge the status and spread of tegus.

Tegus taken this summer near I.S. Smith Road, left, in Toombs and on Ga. 147 in Tattnall. (Special to DNR from left/Seth Edwards, right/Zack Bowen)

What You Can Do

• Tell DNR about any tegus seen in the wild. Note the location, take a photo if possible and report the animal at gainvasives.org/tegus (or click the button below), (478) 994-1438 or gainvasives@dnr.ga.gov.
• Also report sightings from game cameras. Provide a screen image with time and location details to the contacts given. DNR can provide loaner traps, if needed.
• Share this information about tegus with other area residents.
• In Toombs and Tattnall, keep pet food inside, fill holes that might serve as shelter and clear yards of debris such as brush piles that can provide cover for tegus.
• Be a responsible pet owner. Do your research before buying an exotic pet and don't let it loose. Georgia classifies Argentine black and white tegus as wild animals. They cannot be kept as pets unless they were registered with DNR and tagged before Dec. 4, 2023. Importing and breeding wild animal species also is illegal.

More about Tegus

Visit georgiawildlife.com/tegus to learn more about Argentine black and white tegus, see native reptiles sometimes misidentified as tegus and download flyers profiling tegus and their tracks. Also watch: "The Danger of Tegu Lizards" (Georgia Public Broadcasting).

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Questions? Give us a call at 1-800-366-2661 or visit georgiawildlife.com.

Wildlife Resources Division headquarters: 2067 U.S. Hwy. 278 SE, Social Circle, GA 30025