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Rhode Island man finds exotic lizard while shoveling driveway
Exactly how the reptile ended up in Providence remains a mystery.
Shoveling a New England driveway rarely yields more than a soggy newspaper or half-dead patch of grass, but a Rhode Island man made the find of a lifetime this week when he unearthed an exotic lizard.
Buried under nearly two feet of snow on a busy street in Providence, the large tegu was slowly trying to crawl its way out, according to the New England Wildlife Center. The man brought the tegu inside and wrapped him in a shirt before contacting ET Reptiles in Warwick, which retrieved the lizard for further care.
Rhode Island news:
Veterinarians with New England Wildlife Center’s exotic animal clinic found the tegu to be extremely weak, underweight, and showing signs of frostbite after prolonged exposure to the cold, according to the center.
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“Reptiles are cold blooded, meaning they rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature. When temperatures drop too low for too long, their metabolism slows, blood flow is compromised, and cells begin to fail,” the center explained. “In this case, the cold likely led to tissue damage and a cold induced myopathy, essentially muscle injury caused by inadequate circulation and energy at low temperatures.”
A small portion of the tegu’s tongue was amputated, and the lizard received steroids to help with inflammation and weakness.
“He is now resting comfortably and finally warm, which makes all the difference!” the New England Wildlife Center said.
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Native to South America, tegus are considered an invasive species in parts of the U.S., like Florida and Georgia. The Jacksonville Zoo cautions against keeping tegus as pets, both due to ecological concerns and because the lizards can become more aggressive and costly to maintain with age.
It remains a mystery exactly how this particular tegu ended up on the streets of Providence. The New England Wildlife Center said it doesn’t know whether he escaped or was intentionally released, and wildlife officials are urging anyone with information to call the center or ET Reptiles.
“We will be rooting for a good outcome and will share updates as we have them,” the center added.
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