Tegus in Florida brochure 2012 - Everglades Cooperative Invasive ...

Tegu fast factsn Tegus are native to South America.n The tegu’s diet includes fruits, vegetables,eggs, insects, cat or dog food, and smallanimals such as lizards and rodents.n Like many reptiles, tegus are mostactive during the daytime.n The tegu is a large species of lizard andcan grow up to 4 feet in length.n In a burrow, a tegu can survivetemperatures as low as 35°F (1.6°C).n Tegus spend the colder months of theyear in a burrow or under artificial cover.n On average, a mature female tegu willlay around 35 eggs a year.n In Florida, tegu eggs hatch early in thesummer.n Anything that attracts dogs, cats, orraccoons can attract a tegu!Local populations of breeding tegus are nowknown to exist in three Florida counties:Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, and Polk.Monitoring these populations and stoppingthe spread of this species is vital tomaintaining Florida’s native wildlife.Scientists are concerned that tegus willcompete with and prey upon Florida’s nativewildlife, including some threatened species.This map shows crediblesightings of Argentine blackand white tegus in Florida.Tegusin FloridaHatchling tegus have a green coloration on their head which usuallyfades within the first few months of their life. Photo by Dustin Smith,Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces.Follow us on:printed on recycled paper08/2012Be part of the solution!n Don’t leave pet food outside.n Cover outdoor openings and clear youryard of debris to minimize hiding andburrowing areas.n Report all tegu sightings to the exoticspecies hotline at1-888-IveGot1 or onlineat Ivegot1.org.n Don’t release exotic animals into theFlorida ecosystem. It’s illegal and can beharmful to native wildlife.n Be a responsible pet owner. Takethe time to learn about an animal beforeyou take one as a pet.Dennis Giardina, FWCHow You Can Help Stop TheSpread Of An Invasive Lizard

What is a tegu?The Argentine black andwhite tegu, Tupinambismerianae, is an exoticlizard that has beenintroduced toFlorida.Tegus are an invasive species which reproducesquickly and eats a wide variety of fooditems, including small animals and eggsof many wildlife species. Tegus are nowknown to have breeding populations inMiami-Dade, Polk, and Hillsboroughcounties. It is believed the populations werefounded by escaped or released pets. Theblack and white tegu is native to SouthAmerica, specifically to Brazil, Paraguay,Uruguay, and Argentina.Tegus are black and white in color withbanding along the tail. They can reach upto four feet in length. The lizards spendmost of their time on land, though they canswim and may submerge themselves for longperiods of time. Tegus can often be seen onroadsides or other disturbed areas. Likemany reptiles, they are primarily activeduring the day and will burrow or hideovernight.The Florida Fish and Wildlife ConservationCommission (FWC) is currently workingwith other agencies and organizationsto assess the threat of this species anddevelop management strategies. Onestrategy being used by FWC, theUniversity of Florida, Miami-Dade County,and USGS is targeted trapping andremoval. The goal of these partnershipsis to minimize the impact of tegus onnative wildlife and natural areas.Dustin Smith, Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open SpacesWhat to do if you see a tegu1. Take a picture2. Note the location3. Report the sightingReporting your sighting will help wildlifemanagers better understand where theanimals are found. Sightings can bereported over the phone to our exotic speciesreporting hotline at 1-888-Ive-Got1(1-888-483-4681) or online at Ivegot1.org.A phone app for reporting exotics is alsoavailable; search for the free IveGot1 app.Tony Pernas, National Park ServiceThe FWC does not recommend that youattempt to capture the animal! While ategu is not likely to be innately aggressiveit will defend itself if aggravated or threatened.Tegus have sharp teeth, strong jaws, andsharp claws which they will use to defendthemselves. The best method for removingtegus is by trapping.If you see a tegu on your property you cancontact a local wildlife trapper to removethe animal. A list of trappers in your countycan be found at myFWC.com. Tegus are notprotected by any of Florida’s wildlife lawsbut local ordinances will apply dependingon the location.