Tegu lizards detroying Florida wildlife

We're used to lizards in Tampa Bay, but there's one breed that doesn't belong here and it's causing trouble.

[thaliaisen]

Tegus are sweet, friendly, lizards. Don't kill them. Sell them to pet lovers in other parts of the country, where they are highly desirable. They sell for $300 in California. It costs about $60 to ship them, and you could sell every tegu easily for $100 a piece plus shipping. They don't eat cats or dogs. Euthanizing tegus is a waste of life and money. They did not ask to be transplanted from their native environment, and they don't deserve death for eating eggs. They're hungry.

[trashboat]

I have a pet tegu and even thinking about euthanizing one disgusts me they are friendly animals put them out for adoption I bet a lot of other fellow reptile lovers will gladly take them

[notdaveschannel]

Why is Florida Invasive Species Central? I''m assuming it's because most exotic pets are from tropical climates so they thrive in Florida if they're released. If you release Iggy the iguana into your backyard in Maine then the clock's pretty much ticking.

[GuessTheRiddIes]

lmfao that raccoon was like "fuck man im not involved right " lmao that pity face

[feral]

Why the fuck would they kill them?! You could legit bring them to a rescue group x.x

[evanwilliams]

My Tegu is wild caught and he is tame as can be (and probably smarter than my Boston Terrier). Typical government waste, they could make a dent in the FDNR's operating costs by selling them to reptile retailers or directly to customers in other states but that would make way too much sense. Kind of like the War on Drugs, too many Big Pharma donors to keep happy to do the smart thing and legalize and tax it. I'd be willing to bet some Florida state senator's buddy is in the business of making the euthanasia toxin they use. Same bullshit, smaller scale.

[snakebeing]

Would someone explain to me why Tegus can't shipped back to their natural habitat.

[valeriewhitehead]

Don't kill them! Give them to me!

[themeekwarrior]

What a huge waste. They're invasive species, sure. But why kill them all? We re-home lots of feral and stray cats and dogs, don't we?

[mattsanimations]

Kind of a waste when you think about it, I'm sure some people would buy them, even if they are wild caught.

[blckfirebird]

dang that's awful that they're killing them. typical human answer to every problem-just kill it. such a fail.

[annecheryc]

I thought experts cared about the animals they learned so much abou

[brendaboyd]

So dogs and cats are feral also right? Dogs and cats do major damage to wildlife right? Do they trap and kill them to? What is the difference?

[garrettjohnson]

They take eggs from crocodiles and alligators. Isn't that a good thing with Florida's over population of gators?

[muiithehappy]

People should stop release their pet into the wild. Even the amount of lionfish is terrific

[BM_]

Why do they have to kill them. Can't they relocate them or take to a sanctuary. Not right.

[mckinleymathis]

Why will you kill them! Tegus have to eat like any other living organism!

[MrsTurtlehugger]

Just relocate them tegus are smart and curious lizard that have a place on this earth

[animalkingdom]

They have to reduce the number of tegus because if there is not enough wildlife. They will starve and die off. That is why these people are doing this. People need to think before complaining.

But they could instead of killing some of them give them to a zoo, breeder, and there are other options🤷

I like tegus very cute and friendly.

[lysjocksan]

You euthanize them???!!! It's not their fault their owners were assholes!! Considering they sell for about $350, just put them up for adoption or sell them!!! Price them low and they'll be rehomed in no time! They're very aggressive, and the correct response to their eating gator eggs is "THANK YOU".