MT. HAMILTON — A large, striped, non-native, egg-eating lizard is in the custody of the local parks and recreation department days after local officials asked the public for help finding it.

The Argentine black and white Tegu lizard, tentatively named Terri or Terrence, was captured on the dam at Grant Lake in Joseph D. Grant Park this week, by park staff doing a “routine inspection” of the area, according to the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation department. The strange — to California at least — animal is now in the possession of the county’s Animal Services wing which is planning to adopt it out unless its owner comes forward soon.

“The Department is thrilled that the tegu was found safe and sound and is on its way to finding a new home,” Nadine Abousalem, a parks and recreation communications officer, said in an email to this news organization.

Over the weekend, the parks department but out a be-on-the-lookout alert for the lizard after a group of hikers happened upon it at Joseph D. Grant Park. The concern was that the lizard, which is known to feed on bird eggs, could disrupt local wildlife.

Tegus are common pets but their tendency to escape or get abandoned has led to infestations in other parts of the country, like the more lizard-friendly climates of Florida where Tegus can be legally hunted. Local officials are hopeful that for this little guy, the future involves pampering at the hands of a new owner.