Exotic Tegu Lizard Found Buried in Snow After Rhode Island Snowstorm

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A man shoveling his driveway in Providence, Rhode Island after a major snowstorm found an unexpected visitor - an exotic tegu lizard buried in the snow. The New England Wildlife Center said the large tegu was 'slowly trying to crawl out of the snow' when the man found it. The man brought the lizard inside, wrapped it in a t-shirt, and called a local pet store to come help the distressed reptile.

Why it matters

Tegus are not native to Rhode Island, so finding one buried in the snow after a major winter storm was highly unusual. The discovery raises questions about how the tegu ended up in the Providence area and how it managed to survive the frigid temperatures before being found.

The details

Veterinarians at the New England Wildlife Center found the tegu to be 'extremely weak, underweight, and not moving well.' The lizard had suffered frostbite to its tongue and showed signs of significant muscle weakness after prolonged exposure to the cold. Part of the tegu's tongue had to be amputated, and the reptile was given steroids to aid its recovery.

• The man found the tegu while shoveling his driveway on Sunday after a major snowstorm.

What’s next

The New England Wildlife Center is continuing to care for the tegu lizard and will provide updates on its recovery. Authorities are also investigating how the exotic animal ended up buried in the snow in Providence.