Argentine?
They came in as pets and got released??? Or were they intentionally brought here to destabilize the area?
One bullet, one dead tegu.
They came to do the jobs American lizards wouldn’t do.
“The entire southeast portion of the United States is at risk. Much of this area has a climate that is suitable for tegus,” Amy Yackel Adams, a biologists with the U.S. Geological Survey said.
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.
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Probably illegal exotic pet underground market.
I know there will plenty of jokes in this thread, but this is a serious threat to local environment.
Hopefully they can trap as many as possible.
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.
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..😁
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.