When an extended period of unusually cold temperatures hit south Florida in late January, Sunshine State residents collected and turned in 5,195 invasive green iguanas to Florida Fish and Wildlife officials. The iguanas were able to be collected without a FWC permit due to a temporary Executive Order. It allowed people to remove live, cold-stunned green iguanas from the wild without a permit and bring them to select FWC offices February 1–2.
“As an invasive species, green iguanas have negative impacts on Florida’s environment and economy,” said FWC Executive Director Roger Young. “The removal of more than 5,000 nonnative lizards in such a short time span was possible thanks to the coordinated efforts of many staff members in multiple FWC divisions and offices, our partners and, of course, the many residents that took the time to collect and turn in cold-stunned iguanas from their properties.”
FWC staff worked with permit holders authorized to be in possession of live green iguanas to coordinate the transfer of live cold-stunned iguanas to their care, including for sale outside of the state. Green iguanas are a Prohibited species in Florida due to their negative impacts on native wildlife and the economy. They cannot be possessed without a permit. Iguanas turned into FWC that could not be transferred to permit holders were humanely killed by trained staff.
Out of the 5,195 green iguanas collected by the FWC, 3,882 were collected at the FWC’s Sunrise drop-off location. The FWC’s Tequesta location received 1,075, Marathon 215 and Fort Myers 23.
Invasive green iguanas are not protected in Florida except by state anti-cruelty laws. Citizens can humanely kill them year-round on their property or with landowner permission. Cold-stunned green iguana never should be brought into your home or building to warm up. Iguanas can recover from cold-stunning more quickly than you may expect. Once recovered, they can act defensively, with long tails that whip and sharp teeth and claws.
More than 600 nonnative fish and wildlife species have been reported in Florida. Eighty percent of these have been introduced via the live animal trade, with 139 species established in Florida, meaning they are reproducing in the wild.
