A large, dangerous lizard is still on the run in Old Town.
Officials hope the sunlight and warmer weather will lure the female tegu out of hiding so they can catch it, according to the Old Town Police Department.
The tegu was seen in the area of Hillside Avenue, Old Town police have said.
“While not inherently aggressive, they can lash out if they feel threatened,” the department said Sunday.
Tegus have sharp teeth and claws and strong jaws. They can grow up to four feet long and weigh 10 pounds or more. They are native to Argentina. Tegus commonly feast on the eggs of ground-nesting birds like turkeys, as well as other reptiles, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which considers the lizard an invasive species.
Police advised people who see the lizard to not approach it and to report the sighting to police.
Old Town police initially reported that the animal was a monitor lizard but now believes it is a tegu.
BDN writer Kasey Turman contributed to this report.
