Pretty lizards? No. Invasive pests. Iguanas are a popular exotic pet here in the U.S. That is,
until they get too big or difficult to care for. Released lizards have become established in parts of southern Florida and can be a nuisance to homeowners. The green iguana, Mexican spiny-tailed iguana, and black spiny-tailed iguana are the three most common invasive iguana species in Florida.
Iguana Nuisances & Damage
This lizard’s eating habits can harm your landscaping plants, flowers, and ornamental trees. This nuisance wildlife will also help themselves to any fruit you are growing in your lawn or garden like bananas, berries, and tomatoes. Lizard burrows built along sidewalks and seawalls can damage the structures and even lead to collapse.
Iguana Identification
The most common species of lizard to inhabit Florida are the green iguana, the Mexican spiny-tailed iguana, and the black spiny-tailed iguana. In some cases, larger, spiny-tailed iguanas can be mistaken for alligators because of their dorsal spines and darker color. The average length for an iguana in the United States is 6 1⁄2 ft. Their bodies are green and covered in scales. Many times they are described as looking like the mini version of a mythical dragon.
Iguanas In The Yard & The Garden
Iguanas primarily eat fruit, flowers and other plants but will sometimes eat insects, bird eggs, lizards and other small animals. As babies or hatchlings, they will actually eat adult droppings because it provides special bacteria that help them digest plants. They spend the night in burrows they dig in protected areas and bask in open spaces like sidewalks, docks, and lawns during the day. They are very good swimmers and will usually settle near water. When alarmed, these lizards will dive into the water and swim away. This makes it challenging to trap and remove this nuisance wildlife. They will get defensive if cornered or tampered with by pets or people. They have sharp teeth and claws, and will bite, scratch or deliver a slap with their strong tails.
As for how to keep these lizards away from your yard, Be sure to remove any overgrowth, rocks or other shelter spots the lizards can use for protection. Wrap sheet metal around the base of your ornamental trees. Leave about 18 inches of space between the metal and tree. You can also install electric fences on seawalls and docks to deter iguanas. Persistent harassment may encourage the lizards to permanently leave your property. To annoy them, spray them with a water hose, make loud noises, or dangle CDs on plants to scare them.
If worse comes to worse, make sure to hire a pro. These things can bite. Hard. Don’t forget that.
