Invading Iguanas

Iguanas are not native to South Florida. Lacking a natural predator, the population is soaring. Because they feed on bird eggs and vegetation, iguanas pose a serious environmental threat.

Iguanas also carry salmonella, which doesn’t doesn't sicken them, but can be transmitted to unwary humans.

The iguana invasion is blamed on impulse shoppers who abandon the pets when they get too big.

Concerned residents are asking the State to classify iguanas as “reptiles of concern.” This would require an implanted microchip in the reptile and a $100 licensing fee, making the iguana a less likely purchase by impulsive shoppers who release the pets when they get too big.

If you don’t want to handle a nuisance wildlife problem yourself, you can hire a private trapper to solve the problem. The Broward County Animal Care and Regulation Division does not handle nuisance or healthy wildlife calls.

A University of Florida report offers detailed information on Iguanas:

Due to Florida's prominence in the exotic pet trade, iguanas imported as pets have escaped or been released, and are now established in South Florida. This has created unique problems for Florida's homeowners and businesses.

South and Central Florida's subtropical climate allows these large herbivorous (plant-eating) lizards to survive, reproduce, and become part of the Florida environment. Three large members of the iguana family (Iguanidae) have become established in south Florida. These are the common green iguana (Iguana iguana), the Mexican spiny-tailed iguanas (Ctenosaura pectinata) and black spiny-tailed iguana (C. similis).

Large male spiny-tailed iguanas are often misidentified as alligators by startled homeowners because of reduced dorsal spines and dark color. There are many other large lizards established in Florida that some people misidentify as iguanas. The brown basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus) is a large (up to 2 feet) lizard that is often mistaken for an iguana and occurs in the same areas as introduced iguanas. Knight anoles (Anolis equestris) commonly reach between 12-18 inches. Jamaican giant anole (Anolis garmani) males can reach 12 inches. People in South Florida often call these large green anoles "iguanas" or "iguanitos." Occasionally escaped pets that have not established breeding populations are seen by surprised neighbors. These include large lizards like many of the monitor lizards (Varanus sp.).

Damage caused by iguanas includes eating valuable landscape plants, shrubs, and trees, eating orchids and many other flowers, eating dooryard fruit like berries, figs, mangos, tomatoes, bananas, lychees, etc. Iguanas do not eat citrus. Burrows that they dig undermine sidewalks, seawalls, and foundations. Burrows of iguanas next to seawalls allow erosion and eventual collapse of those seawalls. Droppings of iguanas litter areas where they bask. This is unsightly, causes odor complaints, and is a possible source of salmonella bacteria, a common cause of food poisoning. Adult iguanas are large powerful animals that can bite, cause severe scratch wounds with their extremely sharp claws, and deliver a painful slap with their powerful tail. Iguanas normally avoid people but will defend themselves against pets and people that try to catch them or corner them.

Suggested Ways to Deal with Iguanas

Many people enjoy sharing their living space with a few iguanas. Learn to appreciate these exotic creatures. Do not feed iguanas in your yard. This will attract more iguanas and can create problems for both you and your neighbors by creating unnatural concentrations. Do not become a nuisance to your neighbors by feeding iguanas. Pans of cut fruit will attract rats and raccoons as well as iguanas. Be a considerate neighbor and good environmental steward.

If you need an Aminal Trapper – Call A1 Super Heroes immediately at (954) 255-2233 to speak with one of our professionals.

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