This large lizard gives local farmers a headache, and it will sneak into the cage to steal eggs

Biologists are concerned that several states in the southeastern United States have seen traces of Argentine black-and-white taiga because of the reptile's habit of eating eggs and native animals. Photo by KIKE CALVO, GETTY IMAGES

Written by: REBECCA RENNER

　　Deep in Florida's Everglades, a voracious intruder with spotted scales is rapidly increasing. The Argentine black and white taiga, a large lizard that can grow up to 1.2 meters long, has been widely bred in South Florida. But that didn't stop there. These invaders have begun to spread in the southeastern United States, posing a potential threat to local species and farmers.

　　Native to South America, this animal is an omnivore and eats almost anything nutritious that can be put in its mouth. They eat eggs from nesting animals, such as birds and reptiles, including endangered sea turtles. They also eat pigeons and other small animals, strawberries and other fruits and vegetables that are not high off the ground.

　　In addition, Argentine black and white taiga are extremely strong, and once they occupy a habitat, it is difficult to control its reproduction or reduce its number.

　　Although the earliest Argentine black-and-white taiga have been breeding in South Florida for more than a decade after escaping captivity or being released by pet owners, only recently did they spread to Georgia, at least two counties. They have been spotted in all four South Carolina counties over the past few months, and biologists speculate they also breed there. In Alabama, Louisiana and Texas, there have also been reports of seeing Argentine black-and-white taiga, and in the panhandle of Central Florida and Florida, they have also formed stable populations.

　　For those who like to raise exotic animals, the smart and docile Argentine black and white taiga is a popular pet. Amy Yackel Adams, a biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey who studies Argentine black-and-white taiga, said most Argentine black-and-white taiga in the United States are "masterpieces" of American domesticaters, but between 2000 and 2010 alone, the United States imported more than 79,000 live Argentine black-and-white taiga from South America. While only a small percentage escape or are released, biologists believe the problem is getting worse.

　　If more Argentine black-and-white taiga were released, "then there could be large populations in the wild," Adams said.

　　In 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a study using information from the Argentine black-and-white taiga in South America to predict its potential spread in the United States. According to Adams, "The entire southeastern United States is at risk." The climate in most parts of the region is suitable for the Argentine black and white taiga. As of now, there are no official estimates of the U.S.-Argentina Black and White Thai.

　　Argentine black-and-white taiga are well suited to living in highland woodlands and grasslands, especially in areas with abundant seasonal rainfall, such as broad-leaved forests and subtropical pine forests in Florida. Adams said that as climate change causes tropical and subtropical climate bands to shift northward, the range of black-and-white tegas in North America suitable for Argentina may also expand.

　　The researchers were most worried about the predatory behavior of the Argentine black-and-white taiga and the habit of eating eggs. In Venezuela, the Argentine black and white Taiga are known for sneaking into chicken coops to steal eggs, so they are called "chicken stealing wolves". U.S. poultry farmers should be vigilant.

　　Adams said that if argentine black-and-white taiga continues to spread in the southeastern United States, it could pose a threat to many animals that nest or live on the ground, including the indigo snake, which is listed as a threatened species by the Endangered Species Act. Adams is also concerned that they may eat the eggs of another threatened species, the Gopher gopher tortoise, as well as the American alligator, the American crocodile, and so on.

Can the spread be stopped?

　　Argentine black and white taiga are strong and more resistant to cold than other reptiles because they raise body temperature, up to 18 degrees Fahrenheit higher than ambient temperatures. If the winter weather is too cold, they will enter "reptile hibernation mode" and become slow to move, hiding in caves stolen from Florida gopher tortoises or other cavernous animals.

　　They can quickly recover from threats such as hunting. "In the 1980s, the Argentine black-and-white taiga was the most captured reptile in the world," said Lee Fitzgerald, a professor of zoology at Texas A&M University. During that time, Argentina's leather trade exported nearly 2 million Argentine black and white taiga peels each year. "However, there has been no local extinction anywhere," Fitzgerald said.

　　In those states where Argentine black-and-white taiga are already firmly rooted, wildlife conservation officials and others are looking for solutions to curb the further proliferation of Argentine black-and-white taiga in the United States.

　　In 2020, in South Florida alone, traps set by the U.S. Geological Survey captured more than 900 Argentine black-and-white taiga near Everglades National Park. However, according to Adams, the number of Argentine black-and-white taiga in the region shows no signs of decreasing. Before revising plans to eliminate Argentine black and white taiga, the U.S. Geological Survey needed to understand the Argentine black and white taiga population that inhabited everglades National Park. To this end, they radio-tagged Argentine black-and-white taiga and tracked their habits.

　　In Georgia, biologists have been booby-trapping Argentine black-and-white taiga in Tums and Tatnal counties west of Savannah and report that the number of Argentine black-and-white taiga they found is decreasing. Daniel Sollenberger, a reptilian scholar at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, said Georgia may have spotted the Argentine black-and-white taiga problem in time.

　　"We've been arresting them for years," Sollenberger said. "We caught about 12 last year and about 6 this year. Now the number may have decreased a bit, at least in that place. ”

　　Part of the solution adopted by Georgia was to engage residents in awareness campaigns to encourage them to see the Argentine black-and-white taiga post-report. The Georgian Reptile Society has set up an Argentine black-and-white taiga task force to which residents can submit photographs of suspected Argentine black-and-white taiga for identification. Once they identified the Argentine black-and-white taiga, the association's volunteers trapped them and sent them to rescue agencies. After that, the Argentine black and white taiga will be given to people who want to treat it as a pet.

　　Justyne Lobello, president of the Georgia Reptile Society, said: "We did everything we could to determine its location, then make an arrest, and finally try to find another home for it." ”

　　"We want to help them get out of their habitat as humanely as possible." We have a waitlist for us to pet Argentine black and white taiga, which is a big help to our work. ”

　　Still, experts say, the best way to solve the problem is to stop them from spreading into the wild in the first place. Some states, such as Alabama, have enacted laws banning the import of Argentine black-and-white taiga, and others may follow suit. Meanwhile, some biologists warn that it's best not to raise Argentine black-and-white taiga.

(Translator: Stray Dog)