Exotic Tegu Lizard Found Buried Under Snow in Rhode Island

The cold-blooded reptile was discovered by a man shoveling his driveway after a major winter storm.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 7:39am

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A man shoveling his driveway in Providence, Rhode Island after a recent snowstorm found a large tegu lizard buried under about 20 inches of snow. The New England Wildlife Center says the man brought the weakened, cold-blooded reptile inside and wrapped it in a t-shirt to help it conserve heat. Veterinarians amputated part of the tegu's frostbitten tongue and gave it steroids, and the center says the lizard is now resting comfortably and warming up.

Why it matters

Tegus are exotic, invasive reptiles that have become a growing problem in some areas like Florida after being released by owners. This incident highlights the risks these animals face when exposed to extreme cold weather conditions outside of their natural habitats.

The details

The man discovered the large tegu lizard slowly trying to crawl out of the snow while shoveling his driveway. The New England Wildlife Center says the man brought the reptile inside and wrapped it in a t-shirt to help it conserve heat. Veterinarians found the tegu to be extremely weak, underweight, and not moving well, with frostbite damage to its tongue and signs of significant muscle weakness from prolonged exposure to the cold. Doctors amputated part of the tegu's tongue and gave it steroids to aid its recovery.

  • The tegu lizard was discovered on January 29, 2026 after a major winter storm in Providence, Rhode Island.

The players

New England Wildlife Center

A wildlife rehabilitation center that responded to the incident and is caring for the tegu lizard.

ET Reptiles

A reptile rescue organization that responded to the scene and transported the tegu to the animal hospital.

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What they’re saying

“He had suffered frostbite to his tongue and showed signs of significant muscle weakness after prolonged exposure to the cold.”

— New England Wildlife Center

“He is now resting comfortably and finally warm, which makes all the difference! We will be rooting for a good outcome and will share updates as we have them.”

— New England Wildlife Center

What’s next

The New England Wildlife Center says it will continue to monitor the tegu's recovery and provide updates on its condition.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder of the risks exotic, non-native animals face when exposed to extreme weather conditions outside of their natural habitats, and the importance of responsible pet ownership and wildlife conservation.