Because South Carolina provides the species with suitable habitat and climate, black and white tegus and their hybrids have been added to the state’s list of Restricted Non-Native Wildlife.
Courtesy photo
PICKENS COUNTY — The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) continues to receive reports of wild and free-ranging non-native black and white tegus and has confirmed numerous sightings since the initial report from Lexington County back in August of 2020.
Black and white tegus have been observed throughout the state, including in Greenville, Pickens, Darlington, Orangeburg, Berkeley, Richland and Lexington counties.
Due to the establishment of black and white tegus in Georgia and Florida, and the potential negative impacts they could have on native ground-nesting birds like turkey and quail, as well as other species such as the state-endangered gopher tortoise, black and white tegus and their hybrids were added to the list of “Restricted Non-native Wildlife” on May 28, 2021.
These regulations prohibit tegus and their hybrids from being brought into South Carolina or reproduced here, and also required current owners to register all black and white tegus and hybrids with SCDNR. Currently, no unregistered black and white tegu may be possessed, and no tegu may be bought, sold or transferred in the state.
SCDNR officials said they appreciate the continued willingness of South Carolinians to provide information to protect native wildlife and prevent the establishment of non-native species, like black and white tegus.
SCDNR continues to investigate all reports and asks that any sightings be reported to SCDNR biologist Andrew Grosse, grossea@dnr.sc.gov. Sightings can also be reported online. Whenever possible, please submit a photo, location, and time and date the animal was seen.
As a non-native species, tegus in South Carolina are not protected by state wildlife laws or regulations and should be removed from the wild.