Rhode Island Local Rescues 'Lizard in a Blizzard'

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A Rhode Island man discovered a large tegu lizard buried in snow during a blizzard and quickly brought it indoors to the New England Wildlife Center. The reptile was found to be extremely weak, underweight, and suffering from frostbite and muscle weakness due to prolonged exposure to the cold. Veterinarians amputated a small portion of the lizard's tongue to aid in its recovery, and the center is now caring for the tegu as it rests and warms up.

Why it matters

Tegu lizards are not native to the Northeast and are considered an invasive species in some areas like Florida, where owners have abandoned them in the wild. This incident highlights the challenges these cold-blooded reptiles can face in extreme winter weather conditions outside of their natural habitats.

The details

The tegu lizard was spotted by a Providence resident from his driveway on Tuesday during the blizzard. The man quickly brought the reptile indoors and wrapped it in a T-shirt to help conserve heat. ET Reptiles, a local reptile store, agreed to pick up the tegu and take it to an animal hospital. Veterinarians found the lizard to be "extremely weak, underweight, and not moving well" due to the prolonged exposure to the cold, which can lead to cell failure in cold-blooded animals. A small portion of the tegu's tongue was amputated to aid in its recovery.

• The tegu lizard was discovered on Tuesday during the blizzard.
• The reptile was brought to the New England Wildlife Center on Tuesday.

What’s next

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