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Black And White And Banned All Over* *Almost

An illustration of a purple couch with big green leaves around it. On the couch are three giant lizards that have black and white patterns on them. The text on the illustration reads "Black And White And Banned All Over* *Almost."
Iris Gottlieb

Tegus are armed with a metabolic superpower and a powerful appetite for eggs, but they’re also easily domesticated, making them both beloved family pets and unwelcome hungry pests. Throughout the South, these giant lizards are raising eyebrows, breaking hearts and launching lawsuits.

Highlights from Repticon in Raleigh this spring:

Have you had a tegu encounter? We'd love to hear about it. Email podcasts@wunc.org.

This episode was produced by Charlie Shelton-Ormond. Matt Horton and Sean Roux mastered the audio.

Our thanks to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.

Elizabeth Friend grew up in North Carolina listening to public radio in the backseat of the family station wagon. She has been reporting and producing at WUNC since 2016, covering everything from Army history to armadillos. She's also the co-founder of the beloved summer event series Audio Under The Stars. In her spare time she enjoys exploring the outside world with her family, dabbling in esoteric crafts, and cheese.
Laura Pellicer is a digital reporter with WUNC’s small but intrepid digital news team.
Charlie Shelton-Ormond is a podcast producer for WUNC.