A large reptile has officials on high alert in a Maine town, authorities shared on social media.
Calling the animal a “large lizard on the loose,” the Old Town Police Department shared on Sunday, Aug. 24 that the reptile is a tegu lizard.
Someone called police around 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24 about a large lizard under their porch, Bailey told USA TODAY. As of Aug. 25, the lizard has not been found, Bailey said.
A tegu lizard on the loose in Old Town Maine in August 2025.
It was initially believed to be a monitor lizard, but witness accounts have shown otherwise, the department said.
Tegu lizards like this one have sharp teeth and claws, as well as strong jaws, police shared online at 7:15 p.m. on Aug. 24. While they are not “inherently aggressive,” they can lash out when they feel threatened. They can grow to be 2, 3, and sometimes 4½ feet long, according to wildlife experts.
“The owner subsequently contacted us to confirm that the Tegu lizard belonged to him,” Bailey wrote, adding that the owner is an Old Town resident.
What to do if you see a lizard like this
Bailey said those who see the lizard should not approach it. Police have been in contact with the Maine Warden Service and an animal control officer to create a plan to “safely capture the lizard” once it is found, Bailey told USA TODAY.
Our plan involves using a catch pole to guide the lizard into a large crate,” he said. We believe the lizard is possibly hunkered down somewhere and will likely come out when the sun shines again, as Tegu lizards enjoy basking in the sun.”