Large tegu lizard found in stafford county backyard, safely captured

Large tegu lizard found in Stafford County backyard, safely captured

October 5, 2024

STAFFORD, Va. — A Stafford County resident got an unexpected surprise on Saturday afternoon when they found a large lizard wandering in their backyard.

Deputy O.J. Martins responded to the scene on Phillips Street around 5:30 p.m., where the homeowner had already captured the reptile. According to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, the lizard, identified as a tegu, is native to Central and South America.

The tegu, nicknamed “Dwayne ‘the Croc’ Johnson” by the sheriff’s office, is now being housed at the county animal shelter, awaiting its owner to come forward.

The sheriff’s office shared the incident on social media, with a lighthearted message referencing the popular film Jurassic Park and noting that while the tegu is not a crocodile, the nickname stuck.

No further details about how the lizard ended up in the backyard have been released.

Phil Stilton

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.