Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025
Good morning! We have an update today on the high cost to McIntosh County of defending an unpopular zoning ordinance. We then turn to two wildlife reports — one about endangered whales that came back to their Georgia maternity ward a bit early and the other about a large invasive lizard that appears to be getting a little too cozy in the Peach State.
Questions, tips or concerns? Send me a note at mary.landers@thecurrentga.org
ANALYSIS: COMMUNITY
McIntosh legal costs
McIntosh County has spent almost half a million dollars defending its controversial rezoning of Hogg Hummock, a small Gullah Geechee community on Sapelo Island. Through open records requests, The Current GA documented $491,000 in attorneys’ fees spent since October 2023. Read the monthly invoices here.
The county lost its bid to thwart a referendum on the issue when the Georgia Supreme Court in September upheld residents’ right to vote directly on the zoning, which would allow larger houses with higher tax burdens. A lawsuit brought by residents against the county is now paused to allow for settlement discussions.
That’s a welcome development Sapelo descendent and One Hundred Miles Justice Strategist Jazz Watts has advocated all along.
“I’m glad that somebody is finally saying, ‘You know, maybe we do need to sit down and have a discussion and see if there’s a possibility of working this out,’” Watts said.
NEWS: ENVIRONMENT
Right whales return
Two North Atlantic right whales showed up off Georgia and South Carolina last week, as The Current GA‘s Mary Landers reports. That’s earlier than expected for these highly endangered whales that give birth off the Georgia coast each winter, prompting a call for boaters to be vigilant and report any sightings. The map above shows recent right whale sightings and acoustic observations. More dots will appear as the whales migrate south to give birth. Check for updates here.
NEWS: ENVIRONMENT
Georgia invasive lizard update
Georgia is now home to a wild population of Argentine black and white tegus, a South American lizard that can grow up to 4-feet long, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources reports.
Confirmed tegu reports in Tattnall and Toombs counties surged to 11 this year. The total, the most since 2018, could reflect more reports, more tegus or both. Coastal counties have seen two verified tegu reports since 2020, one each in Liberty and McIntosh counties, but such one-offs are likely an escaped pet or illegally released animal, wildlife officials say.
No young tegus have been confirmed so far, but females have been found with eggs. DNR senior wildlife biologist Daniel Sollenberger said the signs point to a wild population. “There’s no (other) reasonable reason for having that many tegus in such a small area.”
Unlike in Florida, tegu numbers in Georgia do not appear to be increasing quickly, but that doesn’t mean their population can’t take off in the future.
Report tegus, alive or dead. Note the location, take a photo if possible and report the sighting at gainvasives.org/argentine-black-and-white-tegu, (478) 994-1438) or gainvasives@dnr.ga.gov.
Also noted:
The city of St. Marys is distributing 200 free trees from noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 18 at the St. Marys Aquatic Center roundabout. The giveaway is zip code restricted, per its Inflation Reduction Act funding requirements. Check this map for eligibility. Recipients must show identification that verifies residence. Three-gallon American elms, Dahoon holly, sycamore, and live oaks will be available.
The Shore Protection Committee will vote on Glynn County’s permit application for the East Beach Slough Fill Project at their public meeting at 10 a.m. Friday at the Brunswick-Glynn County Library. Learn more about the slough and One Hundred Miles’ opposition to the county’s action here.
DNR will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the state’s “Bird Island Rule” aimed at providing greater protection for seabirds and shorebirds. The hearing is set for 7 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Susan Shipman Environmental Learning Center at DNR Coastal Regional Headquarters in Brunswick. Comments can also be submitted by phone, email or mail by Nov. 30. For details on the proposed amendments, see georgiawildlife.com/regulations/proposed; for commenting, georgiawildlife.com/regulations/meetings.
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McIntosh spends $491K, so far, to defend rezoning of Hogg Hummock
With legal costs approaching half a million dollars, McIntosh County is entering settlement talks over Hogg Hummock rezoning.
Right whales return to Georgia coast
Two North Atlantic right whales have been sighted off Georgia and South Carolina earlier than expected, prompting a call for boaters to be vigilant and report any sightings to help protect the endangered species.
Photo gallery: Savannah honors veterans with 79th annual parade
The 79th annual Veterans Day parade in Savannah featured the Benedictine Cadets, Sol. C. Johnson High School dancers and marching band, St. Vincent’s Academy students, Vietnam Veterans, and JROTC cadets from Johnson and Savannah high schools.
Parades, ceremonies honor veterans in Coastal Georgia
Coastal Georgians will mark Veterans Day with a variety of ceremonies, including pilgrimages to gravesites, parades, and other events, in honor of the nearly 700,000 veterans in the state, with a particular focus on those who have served in the First Gulf War and beyond.
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