Invasion of big, voracious lizards threatens U.S. South: study

[jpak]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-lizards/invasion-of-big-voracious-lizards-threatens-us-south-study-idUSKBN1KO1AF

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - A group of South American lizards that can grow up to four feet long (1.2 meters) has established a home in the Florida wild after being brought to the United States as pets, and the reptiles could begin a voracious march across the U.S. South, according to a new study.

Tegu lizards, which currently live in two large colonies in Florida, could expand into an area from the Carolinas to Central Texas, according to the scientific report published in July on the website for the journal Nature.

“They are voracious, omnivorous predatory lizards that can live in a variety of habitats, but we can’t know what is going to happen or how intense this invasion is going to become until the effects are upon us,” said Lee Fitzgerald, a professor at Texas A&M University and curator of its Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections.

Fitzgerald, a co-author of the study, said in an interview this week it could take years for the tegu lizards to reach their potential range, but new hot spots pop up as more pet lizards escape or are dumped in the wild by owners.

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[DFW]

1. Oh, great

Just when we're finally gaining some ground against Republicans in our region of the country, now we have to contend with ANOTHER kind of lizard infestation.

[CottonBear]

3. LOL! Lizard people!

We have plenty of GOP lizard 🦎 people here in GA!

BTW, the GOP attack ads against Abrams have begun airing on Atlanta TV stations. Of course, Abrams is compared and linked to (really bad pictures of) Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton. Then, (ominous voiceover) she’ll raise your taxes!

[Afromania]

11. LOL, I've been saying trump was a lizard man the whole time. Lizardvanina never sends it's best and

wish we could deport him and his entire extend family back to the underground cavern they came from.

[dalton99a]

4. They heard there is a reptilian leader in Washington

[peekaloo]

6. I have this weird ass frog that has taken up residence on my front porch light.

Same color, same eyes yet is much more agile.

[smirkymonkey]

8. God he's ugly.

I hate, hate, hate that miserable, ugly face.

Sorry, he just brings out the worst in me.

[DFW]

9. This is what he looked like before the expensive makeover

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[dalton99a]

10. +1. He still bears a striking resemblance

[DFW]

14. Yes, they didn't fiddle around much with bone structure or skin tone

And the smirk is identical:
[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[CottonBear]

2. Noooooo! We've already been invaded by fire ants & armadillos here in GA.

We have native coyotes, bobcats, black widow and brown recluse spiders 🕷, rattlesnakes & copperheads here in my area.

The invasive armadillos have dug big holes everywhere and are squished all over roadways. The fire ants are just plain dangerous. They are in gardens, lawns, playgrounds, pastures and commercial landscapes. Tbey’ll even get in potted plants. I have even done battle with them in an indoor tropical garden space!
😧

Nope, nope, nope. I do not want 4’ long omnivorous, predatory lizards in my environment.

[peekaloo]

5. A really big one resides in the Governor's mansion.

Stupid people and their "pets". Why can't the pythons eat the lizards in an all out invasive species war? I'm not far from Hillsborough county so I'd bet if they haven't made it here, they will eventually. I thought the frogs that have invaded my area were bad but I do not wish to come across a four foot lizard.

[Panich52]

7. Florida also has that problem

For some reason I saw one of those "monster hunter" shows and in 1 night they found at least 4 different kinds of lizard in relatively small area in FL.

And that's on top of the giant boa problem that state has.

[cpamomfromtexas]

12. Tell the MAGA people they are good on the grill. Problem Solved.

[NickB79]

13. That's what they're doing to control invasive iguanas

I know guys in Puerto Rico that hunt the hell out of them with compressed air rifles. Tastes like chicken

[brooklynite]

15. Lizards or goats? Choices, choices.....