Florida is home to some of the strangest stories in the country.
The Sunshine State is dealing with a new crisis.
And Florida tried to fight off one scary invasion that no one saw coming.
Florida fights a destructive invasive species from South America
Florida has serious problems with invasive species that have been brought to the state and been released.
Burmese pythons and green iguanas were brought to the state as pets and released into the wild after their owners did not want to deal with them.
They thrived in Florida’s environment without any natural predators.
Florida spends more than $100 million annually trying to deal with invasive species.
Now, the Sunshine State and the Southeast are dealing with another invasive species that is wreaking havoc on the environment.
The Argentine black and white tegu lizard population is exploding in the state.
“Argentine black and white tegus are large lizards that can grow up to nearly five feet in length,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Department stated. “They have a distinctive mottled black-and-white pattern, often arranged into bands across their back and tail.”
Tegu lizards are native to South America that arrived in Florida from the pet trade.
They are popular pets but they have been released when they become too big for the owners to deal with.
Argentine Tegu lizards eat the eggs of native species like alligators, crocodiles, and birds.
Florida wildlife officials are worried about them harming endangered or threatened species like sea turtles and gopher tortoises.
Sightings of the lizards are increasing in Florida.
Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and Alabama have reported sightings of these lizards in the wild.
Tegu lizards spotted in the Florida Keys
The Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex said that Tegu lizards had been sighted in North Key Largo.
Wildlife officials noted that Tegus are skilled swimmers that can thrive in coastal areas of the state.
“They are terrestrial lizards that rarely climb more than a few feet off the ground, but they are strong swimmers. Tegus can tolerate marine and freshwater habitats, such as flooded marshes,” Florida Fish and Wildlife stated.
Argentine Tegus are not dangerous to humans but they can bite if they feel cornered or threatened.
They have sharp teeth, claws, and can use their tails as a whip.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman Lisa Thompson said that the state was working on managing the Tegu population.
“The FWC works collaboratively with external agencies and partners to assess the threat of this species and further develop management strategies. The FWC removes tegus from the environment with targeted trapping and works to capture and remove this species from the wild,” Thompson said.
Florida allows for Tegu lizards to be killed year-round with a hunting permit on private land and state-managed lands.
The lizards have been spotted in 35 Florida counties and that number is quickly growing.
Wildlife officials are trying to contain the lizard’s population growth and prevent it from getting into the Florida Everglades where it could wreak havoc on native species.
The Argentine Tegu has no natural predator in Florida so it will be up to trappers, hunters, and wildlife officials to keep its population in check.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
