Protect your eggs: Gonzo lizard on the loose in the South Bay

MT HAMILTON Officials here are asking the populace to be on the lookout for a large black and white egg-eating lizard last seen at Joseph D Grant County Park The Argentine black and white tegu lizard is like Godzilla compared to the blue bellied lizards and alligator lizards one typically sees in parks and trails around Northern California Its zebra-like stripes make it hard to miss and it can grow to nearly five feet in length and weigh around pounds This lizard s name if it has one is unknown They re non-native to California and feed off bird eggs which is one reason why local park officers are trying to find this one The Santa Clara County Parks Department says it was just now spotted by a group of hikers who took pictures and alerted the department On the other side of the continent in Florida black and white tegu lizards are a constant concern that has led officers there to allow residents to hunt them without a permit The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has posted a plethora of information detailing their winter hibernation periods reproductive cycles and how the statewide infestation is likely due to pet lizards escaping or being abandoned by their owners Anyone who knows the lizard s whereabouts is being questioned to call the Santa Clara County Parks Department at - -