In the earth beneath our neighborhoods, the woods surrounding our favorite hiking trails and the waters that line our coast lurks a strange phenomenon: Creatures that have traveled great distances to call communities in the South home – and wreak havoc on the world around them. As unwelcome as these new neighbors may be, they’re also giving scientists, farmers, fisherfolk, homeowner associations and more a chance to get creative finding ways to eliminate these species, mitigate their harm or work toward a more peaceful coexistence. CREEP is a podcast that encourages us to lean in for a closer look at how insects, animals and plants are changing the environment, economy and health of our region in ways we never expected. Listen, subscribe and get to know some of nature’s most fascinating, grotesque and mysterious members. Presented in partnership with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
In the earth beneath our neighborhoods, the woods surrounding our favorite hiking trails and the waters that line our coast lurks a strange phenomenon: Creatures that have traveled great distances to call communities in the South home – and wreak havoc on the world around them. As unwelcome as these new neighbors may be, they’re also giving scientists, farmers, fisherfolk, homeowner associations and more a chance to get creative finding ways to eliminate these species, mitigate their harm or work toward a more peaceful coexistence. CREEP is a podcast that encourages us to lean in for a closer look at how insects, animals and plants are changing the environment, economy and health of our region in ways we never expected. Listen, subscribe and get to know some of nature’s most fascinating, grotesque and mysterious members. Presented in partnership with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.





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.
See photos from the Repticon event in Raleigh and find more about the podcast here.
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.