Invasive Argentine tegus have found a home in Florida. Are there any near Jupiter?
The invasive Argentine black and white tegu has 'reproducing populations' in Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and Charlotte counties, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Scientists also discovered an 'emerging population' in St. Lucie County.
Tegus in other Florida counties are likely there because they are escaped or released pets. Still, the lizards have been spotted crawling around Palm Beach County for more than a decade, said Amy Kight, executive director of Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter Farms.
She gets calls about tegu sightings around canal banks at least once a year.
'I have a feeling people see them more, but just don't know what they are looking at,' wrote Kight in a prepared statement. 'They come from all over the place. We have cared for a few over the years.'
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Argentine black and white tegus are not native to Florida, but to South America: Brazil, Paraguay, eastern Uruguay and northern Argentina.
The omnivores are only protected by anti-cruelty laws in Florida and can be humanely killed on private property with permission from the landowner, according to FWC. They can also be captured and humanely killed without a permit or hunting license on 32 Commission-managed lands in South Florida.
The lizards can reach nearly 5 feet long and live up to 20 years. They lay about 35 eggs each year.
They have a dotted black-and-white pattern along their backs and tails. While they are climbers, they rarely reach more than a few feet off the ground. Tegus are also strong swimmers.
They hibernate during the winter months. In South Florida, they emerge from their burrows in February, just in time for breeding in spring.
Tegus can be dangerous if people try to catch them, but they are not considered aggressive.
They don't typically chase people and attack them if left unprovoked, Kight said.
However, they are known as egg-eaters and can disrupt Florida wildlife. They may eat American alligator eggs and gopher tortoise hatchlings.
Those who find tegus should not try to catch the tegu themselves.
Instead, take a picture of it and call FWC, which has a wildlife alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922).
FWC also encourages people to report tegu sightings to its exotic species hotline at 888-Ive-Got1 (888-483-4681).
Tegus are a prohibited species in Florida and cannot be kept without a permit from FWC.
People who have tegus as pets can surrender them without penalties through FWC's exotic pet amnesty program.
Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: What is a tegu? Iguana-looking reptile is spotted in Palm Beach County
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