The black and white Argentine tegu lizard will be discussed this week at a meeting of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This occurred when wildlife officials in South Carolina passed regulations to end the possession, sale, import and breeding of highly invasive species.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources unanimously approved the order last week, which is awaiting finalization at the General Assembly.
South Carolina regulations say that people who currently own tegus will be allowed to keep them if they register and distribute them within 120 days after the rule becomes final, which is likely to be in May. In the same period, tegus can be bought, sold or transferred, but they cannot be created, imported or released in the state.
Elise Bennett, a lawyer for the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a press release that these “bold steps” in South Carolina are comforting, as non-native reptiles continue to wreak havoc on Florida’s ecosystems.
“South Carolina is adopting this rule just in time,” said Bennett. “With Florida repressing the property of invading tegus to protect its own native wildlife, commercial markets are likely to move to nearby states with weaker laws, endangering the wildlife in those states.”
FWC officials are expected to discuss adopting a rule on Thursday that will ban the ownership of tegus as pets, but will continue to allow breeding and export until 2024.
If Florida joins Alabama and South Carolina in creating rules on tegu ownership, it could send a flood of highly invasive lizards to neighboring states, such as Georgia.