A large lizard is on the loose in Old Town.
The tegu was seen in the area of Hillside Avenue, according to the Old Town Police Department.
“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.
“If you own this lizard, we’d like you to call us,” the department said.
Old Town police initially reported that the animal was a monitor lizard but now believes it is a tegu.