If it feels like there are more iguanas every year in South Florida, you're not imagining it. Here's why this invasive reptile has exploded across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.
An invasive species with no brakes
Green iguanas aren't native to Florida — they're an invasive species from Central and South America, established here through the pet trade and escapes. Because they're non-native, they have no natural predators or population controls in our environment.
Combine that with South Florida's warm, subtropical climate and endless network of canals and lakes, and you get near-perfect breeding conditions almost year-round.
They breed fast and spread along water
A single female can lay dozens of eggs per season, and iguanas travel readily along the water's edge, colonizing any open territory. That's why one neighbor's iguana problem quickly becomes the whole street's — and the whole community's.
Cold snaps occasionally knock populations back (you may remember 'raining iguanas' cold mornings), but they rebound quickly as temperatures recover.
What it means for your property
Rising iguana numbers mean more seawall and landscaping damage, more droppings on docks and pool decks, and more pressure on waterfront homes, HOAs and golf courses. The properties that stay ahead of it are the ones with an active control program.
If iguanas are increasing on your property, professional iguana removal and control is the way to get — and stay — ahead of the curve.