Green iguanas, despite not being native to Florida, became common in the state and a threat to wildlife. There are many ways in which it poses a threat to the location, such as property damage, transmission of various diseases through droppings and loss of commercial and residential flora. The following essay will review the ways in which this species is invasive and harmful to the state of Florida.
During summers, these creatures are especially active, which creates more risks of damage. In South Florida, they have caused the second most power outages, being outnumbered by squirrels in this regard. Besides that, iguanas pose a threat to residential and commercial vegetation, as these reptiles enjoy trees with foliage, most fruits and vegetables (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2021). Infrastructure damage is yet another consequence of them residing in the state, as they dig burrows that ruin sidewalks, foundations and canal banks.
These creatures are deadly to tree snails, which are currently an endangered species. Besides these things, iguanas are a threat to nickerbean, a host plant for the endangered Miami Blue butterfly (Ennds, 2018). The reptiles are notorious for their massive appetites and rapid breeding capabilities. Moreover, their droppings may transmit salmonella, campylobacteriosis and trichinellosis if contaminated. Said feces can be found on decks, pool platforms, seawalls, moored boats and docks.
Iguanas are extremely vulnerable to low temperatures, as their body temperatures are dependent on external conditions. These creatures enter a lethargic state when it becomes colder than 50 degrees Fahrenheit (Tampa Bay Times, 2019). As time progresses, they die if the cold persists for longer than three days. Unfortunately, this idea is ineffective due to climate change increasing average temperatures and decreasing the frequency of long-term cold snaps in South Florida.
Another issue that complicates the attempts to decrease the population of iguanas is the way they are perceived by people. Usually, these reptiles have a positive reputation, since they do not attack humans and have an exotic appearance (Tampa Bay Times, 2019). This attitude towards the creatures has made it harder for society to understand the damage they cause to the environment and the infrastructure. They are not willing to implement the same measures of lowering the number of iguanas in the state as they do with rats and cockroaches.
While there have been attempts of decreasing the iguana population, it has been shown that killing them would only result in more aggression. It is advisable that the state implements scientific, safe and humane solutions to the issue, starting with a ban on selling these animals (BioBubblePets, 2022). In order to have a better understanding of their environmental threats, it is recommended to know more about them.
Some of the measures that can be taken against these creatures include suitable trapping and handling methods, humane euthanization and introducing predators. The latter has been implemented by Florida’s officials and Zoo Miami. The first group releases raptors and owls in order to control the iguana population (Outforia, 2023). The second one includes these creatures in the diets of eagles and birds kept in captivity. If the plan succeeds, the birds will be able to hunt the reptiles after being released.
In conclusion, green iguanas are a rather invasive species that pose a threat to Florida’s wildlife, flora and infrastructure. Despite putting endangered species at risk, transmitting salmonella and trichinellosis through contaminated feces and digging burrows, their population is hard to decrease. This is because these animals have a positive reputation due to not being aggressive to humans. Active murder of iguanas and cold snaps are no longer effective, as climate change increases temperatures and killing the reptiles may make them more aggressive. Thus, it has been offered to introduce them to diets of raptors and owls, so that these creatures could control the iguana population upon release.
References
BioBubblePets. (2022). Iguanas in Florida: An invasive species. Web.
Ennds. (2018). Invasive green iguana – beautiful but also destructive. Web.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (2021). Green Iguana. Web.
Outforia. (2023). The 3 invasive iguanas in Florida: Guide with pictures and facts. Web.
Tampa Bay Times. (2019). Florida’s invasive iguana population is booming. And that’s a problem. Web.