Huge South American Lizard Found By Providence Man Shoveling Driveway

The lizard was hospitalized and part of its frost-bitten tongue was amputated.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 9:07am

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A Providence man shoveling his driveway discovered a huge, frozen South American lizard clinging to life beneath 20 inches of snow. The man brought the lizard inside, wrapped it in a t-shirt, and contacted reptile experts who rushed to retrieve the animal and take it to the New England Wildlife Center hospital.

Why it matters

Tegus are an invasive species in Florida, where hundreds are trapped and removed from the wild every year due to their ability to establish thriving populations. This incident highlights the potential for these robust and adaptable reptiles to be found in unexpected places, raising concerns about their ecological impact.

The details

At the hospital, the lizard was found to be extremely weak, underweight, and not moving well. It had suffered frostbite to its tongue and showed signs of significant muscle weakness after prolonged exposure to the cold. A small portion of nonviable tissue was amputated from the lizard's tongue, and it was provided with supportive care, including steroids, to help address inflammation and generalized weakness.

  • On January 29, 2026, a Providence man discovered the frozen lizard while shoveling his driveway.

The players

New England Wildlife Center

A wildlife rehabilitation center that provided medical care for the frozen South American lizard.

Taylor and Emily

The co-owners of ET Reptiles, who responded immediately to retrieve the lizard and take it to the New England Wildlife Center.

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What they’re saying

“Thankfully (it) takes more than a couple feet of snow and a rogue reptile to rattle this resident.”

— New England Wildlife Center

“He kindly brought the lizard inside right away and wrapped him in a t shirt to help conserve heat.”

— New England Wildlife Center

What’s next

The lizard is currently resting comfortably and receiving supportive care at the New England Wildlife Center. Its recovery and long-term prognosis will be closely monitored.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder of the potential for unexpected wildlife encounters, even in urban areas, and the importance of responsible pet ownership and wildlife management to address the growing problem of invasive species like tegus.