Neighbors concerned, not threatened, by lizards on loose in Wake Forest

Wake Forest police on Friday warned residents in and around the Bowling Green subdivision that a resident had lost three venomous Gila monsters, but neighbors describe the animals as another, less dangerous breed.

Posted 1:55 p.m. Sep 29, 2017 — Updated 6:06 p.m. Jul 13, 2018

WAKE FOREST, N.C. — Wake Forest police on Friday warned residents in and around the Bowling Green subdivision that a resident had lost three venomous Gila monsters, but police now say they are Argentine tegu, a less dangerous species.

The police department posted to Facebook that the lizards were missing and that "several area residents have reported seeing the escapees on social media."

Jeffrey Applegate, a professor from North Carolina State University, said this is not the first time a tegu was found in Wake Forest.

"[A]nother red tegu was found in Wake Forest about a month ago and brought to the veterinary college. That animal was reportedly found with a black and white tegu (a different species). Also, reportedly another black and white and red were spotted in the same area," he said in an email to WRAL News.

A Gila monster can grow to 2 feet long and 5 pounds.

JoAnn Sarmiento said the lizards in question live in a hole in her front yard.

"He just hang out and doesn't bother us," she said. "He hangs around in the bushes...he'll sunbathe on the front porch."

Dr. Jennifer Hummel, a veterinirian at Rolesville Animal Hospital, who specializes in exotic animlas, says even though tegus are not venomous, they can still pack a nasty bite."

Encyclopedia Britannica says there are seven varieties of tegu, and they can grow to 4 feet.