Who lives in Florida?

[vash]

Are there really iguanas invading the landscape?

Statewide? Or localized in areas?

[Chocaholic]

No. No more than usual. I don’t live there but I do work there. Been there every week until 2 weeks ago.

[nota]

some areas are over run with the iguanas
black point canal bike path near me is one
my kid reports lots of them sunning on the paved path

we also have lots of other lizards monitors are a growing problem big nasty and have poison
and like to eat bird eggs while iguanas eat plants only
but monitors donot like built up areas so stay mostly in the glades so far
iguanas with invade your backyards

[doublestuff]

Southeast Florida definitely has an iguana problem, although it varies locally. I left Florida in 2003, and returned in 2010. When I left I had never seen an iguana in the wild. My first drive to the Keys after coming back I couldn't keep count of them (over 100). I've seen them all over Monroe, Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
I live on the west coast (Naples), and I've seen a couple here, but not anywhere near the numbers I see when I visit the east coast. We do have Cuban anoles (about 20" long green lizards, mostly seen in trees), but I think I've seen three or four of them.
When I moved back to Florida and lived in Palm Beach County for a bit, I walked out to my car one day and was surprised to see a two-foot-long Basilisk lizard (aka "Jesus lizard" for its ability to run on water) next to my car. Apparently a shipping container of fruit came from Honduras to the Port of Palm Beach - when they opened it, a bunch of Basilisks ran out, and now they have a breeding population.
But yes, to answer the OP's query, iguanas are an invasive species that are present in Florida in increasing numbers, they cause quite a bit of damage, and we should probably start eating them. I do think they're adorable, though.

[Lyle O]

I see at least one or two every day (when I am here in Palm Beach, especially in the winter months). It really became noticeable about 10 years ago. I don’t think I ever saw one in the wild in the ‘90s or earlier. They are becoming less afraid of humans; you have to come pretty close to even scare them into moving. I’ve jumped them when they are on the dock, and they will jump into the water (intracoastal) and swim. You can pick them off with an air gun; fully acceptable, as they are considered a nuisance.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by vash

Are there really iguanas invading the landscape?
Statewide? Or localized in areas?

Ok..gotta ask. Are you talking about the 6-10 inch reptiles that some call gecko's?
If so...yes, they are everywheres.

[astrochex]

Not that I can see in Eastern, Central Florida.

[Mericet]

Have not seen any here on Amelia Island or in Jacksonville.

[Jon B]

Out here we have alligator lizards. In the air. And they bite.

[aigel]

Vash, are you asking because of CV and people staying home more?

There were news articles of them dropping out of the trees during a recent colds spell.

I read they are good eating. I'd totally go for them!

G

[JeremyD]

Mostly south Florida - as in south of Sarasota across to West Palm Beach.

We have had them in Tampa but they really don't end up staying through the cold. My favorite story was about a guy who went around collecting them during a cold front and sticking them in his car - with the idea that he could later sell them as pets. Well - one they started getting warm - they go more active (and they are very strong) they got pissed off from being cooped up - he ended up wrecking his car - and the interior got totally trashed from these trying to get out...

We had one on our dock and our bull terrier was going crazy - I had visions of a big honking vet bill (their saliva is very dangerous too - they can carry leprosy). Anyway I poked him with the pool cleaner and he took off swimming and never came back.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Jon B

Out here we have alligator lizards. In the air. And they bite.

If you can catch it. My cat can for sure. I like the little guys so I keep the cat in check and let them be. They eat all the ground bugs and they can even catch and eat fleas. Just like ladybugs.

I've watched an alligator lizard chomp a black widow in one bite. The BW was the size of his head.

Don't know about iguanas out here. Some dickhead released an alligator in a small lake a few years ago. The hilarity of the county trying to catch it. They even hired one of those so called alligator hunters from out of state, booney hat and all, and he failed.

[CurtEgerer]

Chicken of the Trees.

[vash]

Originally Posted by aigel

Vash, are you asking because of CV and people staying home more?

There were news articles of them dropping out of the trees during a recent colds spell.

I read they are good eating. I'd totally go for them!

G

No. The lock down is boring. I’m watching random videos. I saw a YouTube vid of an iguana shoot and it looked wild. Fun. It got me thinking.

[ErVikingo]

the canal a mile south from me is over run with Iguanas. Basilisk are everywhere

[aigel]

Originally Posted by vash

No. The lock down is boring. I’m watching random videos. I saw a YouTube vid of an iguana shoot and it looked wild. Fun. It got me thinking.

They also have big snakes that you can hunt. I think those are good to eat too. I like reptiles - it is a nice light meat somewhere between chicken and fish ...

My experience in the South was that there was opportunity but unlike the West, not much public land to speak of to go hunting. I'd imagine you could get access.

I read an article that I can't find anymore - in FL during the freeze a lot of people picked them up and cooked them. Even prepared the meat and offered it for sale on CL. I think you want to handle carefully like chicken as they can carry salmonella.

G

Here a nice video on the subject. They show a nutritional label. 0 Cholesterol!

[dmcummins]

I haven’t noticed them here, I live about 30 miles north of Ft. Myers. I’ve seen them down in the keys.

[GH85Carrera]

I spent a week in Florida last summer. One day I drove down to the Keys to visit a friend that lives on Big Pine Key and I spent the night with them. He talked about sitting in his back yard enjoying the evening and a large iguana was in a tree above him. The iguana then proceeded to crap all over him and the table. It went from just part of the environment to pest. He used his pellet rifle and dropped it from the tree. The local trash day was the next day. The Jamaican guys doing the work on the trash truck were happy to get it.

I drove down to Key West just to get the photo of the my car and the marker for most southern point and stopped in Big Pine Key to get some wine for my friends as a thank you for putting us up overnight. At the store we saw a monitor lizard that had to be 6 feet long. It was a cat and dog eater I bet.

[KFC911]

I saw only one iguana when I lived in Jax years ago....the gators in our apt ponds kept them away I reckon. Lots of gators tho...they'd relocate them when they reached 5-6'. Unfenced ponds....no kids and few yappy dawgs either

[URY914]

I don't what is worst; reptiles or snow birds in RV's.