Posted on 11/25/2020 5:50:56 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT
Wildlife officials are warning that tegu – a South American lizard that can grow up to the size of a dog – continue to spread across the Southeast.
The Argentine black-and-white tegu is an invasive animal that has spread to Georgia and South Carolina but has also been reported in Alabama. The lizards, which can grow up to 10 pounds and 4-feet long, are “voracious invaders,” according to National Geographic and, once established in an area, it’s hard to control the spread.
Once established tegu will eat just about anything – birds, reptiles, fruits and vegetables. They also like eggs, causing concerns for the future of other species in the areas, including turtles.
(Excerpt) Read more at al.com ...
“It weighed about as much as a Volkswagen”
A F.O. friend had a chance to call in the New Jersey.
Walking them in as usual, the Sailor says, ‘hey buddy, they each cost the same as a new Cadillac, just tell us where you want it’!
Looks like a Democrat
I personally knew a big b/w tegu breeder whose breeding facilities were in Alabama. It was called Agama International, a 7-acre farm which annually produced thousands of lizards of many sorts, including tegus. The breeder passed away in 2008, leaving the facility to his son. It has since been sold to another couple. With the storms/hurricanes/etc. which have occurred in Alabama in the past few years, it is entirely possible that some of his breeding animals escaped. I remember him posting photos of the expired-date turkeys and chickens he'd get free from local supermarkets that he'd thrown (minus the plastic) into the tegus' enclosure after running the birds through a radial arm saw and how they would just chomp them down, bones and all.
Also Komodo dragons carry loads of bacteria in their mouths, so if they bite you, you’re going to get infected badly if you don’t sterilize that pronto.
She has a nice smile!
And she might be able to make some great nuoc mam(?) sauce.
Actually, the b/w tegus and red tegus tame down to a remarkable degree. I'm told they can be like big dog tame. No thanks! I prefer my teeny lizards.
“...it is entirely possible that some of his breeding animals escaped....”
I would say that is THE most likely scenario...
Yeah, they fell out of Stacy Abrams' scalp when she finally brushed her hair.
Good question... sometimes they come in container ships... but it does make you wonder. Either way... just accuse a Cajun of not being able to cook them properly and the problem will take care of itself..😁
“Nothing that 10 year old boys and pellet guns can’t cure.” - Uncle Miltie, 1985.
Boudreaux’s Cajun-Fried Lizard
Post of the week!
Exactly! It really rankles me, when the media uses such asinine substitutes for standard measurement systems. Who doesn’t know what 10 lbs (or 4.4 kg) is — meanwhile, as you point out, dogs range from about 3 lbs to 175 lbs. Not everyone is as ignorant and mentally-challenged as the average reporter.
Ok Hale,
I use to service an Albertsons grocery in a strip mall which also had an exotic reptile store.
Here in south Florida folks have come here from God knows where.
People would purchase an Iguana.
10, 12 inches long.
Sucker would maybe grow to 5 or 6 feet long, weigh 70, 80, 100
Folks would try to return said beast to the retailer and were told, listen pal we can’t take em back Its against the law. Just take em out back and let his ass go.
They would.
Nice ditch full of water out back.
These monsters would grow to 6 feet and sit and look for food. Climb trees too.
Don’t get me started as to the dumb asses who’ve released their big ass snakes here.
Good purse material. Ladies! Soon to be on QVC!
—
(Ricardo Montalban voice) “Rich tegu leather”
Which country?
Been subjected to this 15 year old story on my snake forums endlessly.
I DO know whereof I speak, thank you.
The gator did not “chew its way out”.
They’re not sure how it happened precisely but the snake was headless when found, not dead of a gator “chewing its way out”.
If you think Murder Hornets and Tegu are something to get up about DO NOT READ ABOUT those 12 inch carnivorous Hammerhead Worms from Malaysia recently found in the state of Georgia.
—
“Once the prey is mostly immobilized, the worm extends is pharynx from its body and secretes digestive enzymes, then sucks liquefied tissue into its branched gut using cilia. When digestion is complete, the worm’s mouth also serves as its anus.”
Holy crap! It’s like a bad alien sci-fi movie.
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