Wildlife trappers in Brevard County have received dozens of calls about sightings of a large, exotic lizard on the loose that can be aggressive if provoked.
- Brevard residents reporting sightings of tegu
- Tegus are large, invasive lizards endemic to South America
- They're not usually aggressive but can attack if they feel threatened
The reptile, they think, is a 4- to 5-foot-long tegu, an invasive species that's established breeding populations in Hillsborough and Miami-Dade counties but has rarely been seen in Brevard.
“We don’t need another Miami,” wildlife trapper James Dean said. “Miami does have a bad problem with these, mainly because they are a large importer of exotic animals.”
Adult tegus are generally black and white, with banding along the tail. They are active during the day, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They live on land, often on roadsides, but occasionally may enter water.
Palm Bay resident Larry Earle said his mother last week saw a large reptile in the middle of the road as she arrived at her Palm Bay residence off Jupiter Boulevard.
“When she pulled up on it, she saw it was a giant lizard,” he said.
Although it might be tempting to try to catch this animal if you see it, professionals discourage people from approaching one.
“It can be aggressive if it’s trapped or cornered. If it started losing the fear of being handled by humans and all of a sudden is introduced back into the wild, it can revert back to its natural instincts,” Dean said.
Tegus, which are native to South America, can eat just about anything, from fruits and vegetables, eggs, insects and cat or dog food, to small animals such as other lizards and rodents.
“We have small dogs and cats, and I wouldn’t want any of them to go missing,” Earle said.
As the search continues, Earle said he hopes the large reptile is caught soon.
“This is more than a little scary. I’m worried,” Earle said.
If you see a tegu, take a picture, note the location and report the sighting by phone at 1-888-IVE-GOT1 or online at IveGot1.org.