Georgia Wildlife Officials Urge Residents to Hunt Invasive Tegu Lizards

Four-foot-long Argentine black and white tegus are terrorizing ecosystems across the American Southeast, prompting wildlife authorities in Georgia to issue a blunt directive: kill the invasive reptiles on sight. Originally introduced through the pet trade, these South American predators are now rapidly spreading through Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has escalated its response to the growing population of Salvator merianae. Senior wildlife biologist Daniel Sollenberger suggests that residents who cannot safely dispatch the animals using a firearm should document the location with photographs and contact local authorities to coordinate trapping efforts. The lizards pose a severe threat to native species by raiding the nests of ground-nesting birds and consuming the eggs of local wildlife.

Beyond their ecological impact, the reptiles carry risks to human health, including the transmission of Salmonella and various exotic parasites. Experts warn that the window for containment is closing; without aggressive intervention, the population is expected to expand, causing irreversible damage to regional agriculture and biodiversity. While these animals are often noted for a more docile temperament compared to other lizard species, their unchecked growth in the wild has forced a shift toward lethal control measures.