Invasive creature spotted by hikers at California park captured, officials say

An invasive creature native to South America has been found and captured at a Northern California park, officials reported.

Hikers spotted the Argentine black and white tegu at Joseph D. Grant County Park earlier in June, Santa Clara County Parks said Friday, June 6, on Facebook.

Rangers began looking for the invasive lizard, but workers doing routine maintenance spotted it on a dam at Grant Lake on Thursday, June 12, officials told McClatchy News in an email.

Rangers and workers captured the lizard before California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers and Santa Clara County animal control officers moved it to the animal shelter.

Officials said they are looking for the tegu’s owner, but if they cannot be found the lizard will be put up for adoption.

Park officials said they are “thrilled that the tegu was found safe and sound and is on its way to finding a new home.”

The hikers who first spotted the lizard took photos of the lizard and reported it to park rangers, McClatchy News reported.

“These lizards are not native to the area and tend to eat bird eggs, small birds, small lizards, and various small mammals and invertebrates,” rangers said.

Argentine black and white tegus can reach up to 4 feet long and weigh 10 pounds or more, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said.

“They are docile so they won’t harm people, but they do not belong in county parks,” California rangers said.

In a follow-up post June 7, officials said rangers were actively searching for the creature.

“Please do not go searching for the tegu or trap it,” rangers warned. “If you see it, back away safely and notify rangers as soon as possible.”

Several people commenting on the post suggested the lizard may have been an escaped or abandoned exotic pet.

“Poor guy, I hope he escaped and wasn’t dumped,” read one comment.

The 10,882-acre park is located in the foothills, park officials said. It’s about a 60-mile drive southeast from San Francisco.

This story was originally published June 15, 2025 at 11:31 AM with the headline "Invasive creature spotted by hikers at California park captured, officials say."