The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is seeking to eradicate wild populations of Argentine black and white tegu it says has settled in Toombs and Tattnall counties.
The Argentine black and white tegu can grow to be up to 4 feet long and weigh 10 pounds or more. The species can be identified by its mottled black-and-white coloring, which is arranged in a banded pattern across its back and tail. Hatchlings also display a bright green color on their heads. This tends to disappear around the time they reach a month old.
Though the DNR cannot confirm the origin of these wild populations, officials say it is likely they are related to pets that have been released or escaped. It is legal to keep tegus in captivity in the state of Georgia. However, letting them—or any other non-native species—loose is breaking the law. "They eat just about anything they want, plant and animal matter, and one of their favorite foods are eggs from ground-nesting animals such as gopher tortoises—our protected state reptile—birds, including turkeys and quails," said Jenson.
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