Green Iguanas in Central and South Florida: What Property Owners Need to Know

Florida Has a Green Iguana Problem That Is Getting Worse

Florida's green iguana population has expanded dramatically since the species first established itself in South Florida decades ago. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), green iguanas are now considered one of the state's most widespread invasive reptiles, with established populations stretching from Miami and Fort Lauderdale up through Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and into parts of Central Florida including Orlando. The combination of Florida's warm climate, year-round food sources, and absence of natural predators has allowed their numbers to climb far beyond what most homeowners expect when they first spot one in the yard.

This is not a problem that resolves on its own. If you are seeing one or two iguanas regularly, there are almost certainly more nearby. The females can produce 25 to 70 eggs per clutch, and they nest in burrows they dig in soft soil, canal banks, and the ground alongside seawalls. Getting ahead of an iguana situation early is considerably easier than managing an established colony.

How Green Iguanas Damage Property

The physical damage green iguanas cause goes well beyond chewed plants and gardens, though that cost adds up fast. Iguanas are enthusiastic burrowers, and the soil around seawalls and canal banks is particularly appealing because it is soft, warm, and easy to excavate.

When an iguana digs a burrow alongside or directly beneath a seawall, it removes the soil that helps hold the structure in place. Seawalls depend on the ground pressing against them from both sides. Once that backfill erodes, water gets in, the base shifts, and cracks follow. Seawall repair or replacement in Florida typically runs from $150 to $500 per linear foot, and some homeowner insurance policies in waterfront areas do not cover iguana-related damage. A 20-foot compromised section can become a $4,000 to $10,000 repair before the soil failure is even visible from the surface.

Beyond seawalls, iguanas cause damage in several other ways:

• They eat flowering plants, hibiscus, orchids, and vegetable gardens down to the stem.
• Their droppings contaminate pool decks, docks, and outdoor dining areas and can carry Salmonella bacteria, which is a health concern for children and pets.
• Burrows under driveways, patios, and concrete slabs can cause settling and cracking over time.
• They fall out of trees during cold snaps, which is startling and occasionally injurious if a large iguana lands on a person below.

Homeowners in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and Naples report some of the heaviest seawall damage, given the density of canal-front properties in those areas. But the same pattern shows up wherever waterfront lots meet warm soil.

What Does Florida Law Say About Iguana Removal?

The legal picture is clearer for iguanas than for many other wildlife species in Florida. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), green iguanas are a non-native invasive species and are not protected under Florida state law. Property owners may humanely remove green iguanas from their own land at any time, without a special permit.

There is one important restriction to understand: captured iguanas cannot be transported alive and released at another location in the state of Florida. Doing so is illegal under FWC rules, because releasing invasive animals elsewhere spreads the problem. The FWC encourages humane removal and publishes guidance on humane methods at myfwc.com. A professional wildlife company can manage trapping and disposition in line with that guidance.

FWC actively encourages property owners to manage iguana populations on their land and publishes guidance on humane methods at myfwc.com. The agency's position is that reducing iguana populations is in the public interest given the ecological damage the species causes to native plants, bird nesting sites, and coastal infrastructure.

Green Iguanas Are Most Dense in Central and South Florida for a Specific Reason

Green iguanas are cold-sensitive animals. When temperatures drop below about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, they become temporarily immobilized (the "falling iguana" phenomenon that makes news every winter). This cold sensitivity is the primary reason the species has not spread as aggressively into North Florida and the Panhandle as it has into the warmer southern half of the state.

Populations are densest in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Lee, Collier, and Sarasota counties. The cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, and Sarasota see the most consistent year-round activity. Tampa and St. Petersburg have growing populations that expand during warm months. In the Orlando area and across Central Florida, populations are present but typically thinner, concentrated near retention ponds, well-planted neighborhoods, and waterways where food is reliable and burrow sites are accessible.

The trade in pet iguanas contributed to the original population establishment. Animals that escaped or were released decades ago have since reproduced through multiple generations, producing offspring fully adapted to Florida conditions.

Exclusion and Prevention: The Right Starting Point

Exclusion means physically blocking iguanas from the areas where they cause the most damage. It does not require trapping or removing the animals first, and for many properties it is the most cost-effective long-term solution.

Effective iguana exclusion methods include:

• Seawall base reinforcement: Installing physical barriers along the soil line at the base of seawalls that prevent iguanas from excavating. This is most effective when combined with habitat modifications that make the area less attractive as a nesting site.
• Tree guards: Smooth sheet-metal collars installed around the trunks of palms and fruit trees prevent iguanas from climbing to reach food. The collar needs to be at least 18 inches wide and positioned so the iguana cannot reach above or below it.
• Plant selection: Removing or replacing the plant species iguanas prefer, including hibiscus, bougainvillea, and most flowering ornamentals, reduces what draws them to your yard. Replacing with plants iguanas find less palatable (such as crotons, milkweed, and citrus) does not eliminate the problem but reduces pressure.
• Burrow blocking: Active burrows can be collapsed and backfilled, but this works best when combined with trapping or exclusion so the animal is not simply trapped underground or forced to relocate to a neighboring property.
• Pool and dock screening: Fencing the perimeter of pool areas with smooth-surfaced fencing iguanas cannot grip can keep animals off pool decks and out of the water.

FWC guidance (available at myfwc.com) recommends exclusion and habitat modification as the first line of management before moving to active removal. These measures reduce the carrying capacity of a property, meaning fewer iguanas can establish themselves even if trapping removes the current population.

When Is Humane Trapping and Removal the Right Call?

Exclusion slows the problem. When an established group of animals is already causing active damage, trapping and humane removal addresses the immediate pressure while exclusion work takes effect.

Live trapping uses enclosed cage traps baited with fruit (iguanas are attracted to bright-colored items: mango, cantaloupe, and papaya work reliably). Traps need daily checking. A captured iguana should be handled with care because a large adult can scratch or bite if it feels threatened, and their tails are a primary defensive tool. Iguanas above three feet in length, which is common in established Florida populations, require experience to handle safely.

A professional wildlife removal company will:

• Assess the population size and active burrow locations before beginning.
• Set traps in high-activity corridors identified through sign reading (droppings, disturbed soil, tracks).
• Handle and remove animals in a way that complies with FWC guidelines on humane methods and disposition.
• Coordinate trapping with exclusion installation so the property does not simply attract new animals after the current ones are removed.

Ongoing removal programs are often more effective than a single round of trapping, particularly on larger properties or in neighborhoods where adjacent lots are not being managed. Iguanas from neighboring properties will recolonize a treated yard if the habitat conditions remain attractive.

Professional Iguana Management Costs Vary, and a Free Inspection Is the Only Accurate Starting Point

Costs vary by property size, the severity of infestation, the type of exclusion work needed, and how many service visits are included. A free on-site inspection is the only accurate way to estimate for a specific property.

As a general reference point, industry pricing for iguana removal and basic exclusion work in Florida typically starts in the low hundreds of dollars for a single-family residential property with a modest iguana presence, and scales from there based on scope. Seawall-adjacent properties with active burrowing often need more involved exclusion work that raises costs significantly. Ongoing management programs, where a technician monitors and re-traps on a scheduled basis, are commonly priced on a quarterly or monthly basis depending on population pressure.

Whatever the service cost, it is worth comparing it to the seawall repair and plant replacement costs that accumulate without intervention. A $10,000 seawall section is a recurring reference point in South Florida iguana discussions for good reason.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Wildlife Removal Cost in Florida
• Alligator in Your Yard or Pool
• How Wildlife Gets Into Your Home