It’s December and temperatures are cooling, yet the Iguana activity seems to be rising. Note, if it really gets cold and near freezing, Iguanas go into an involuntary hibernation state. They virtually fall out of the trees and become catatonic right where they are. In this case, you can euthanize them right on the spot. The State of Florida highly encourages homeowners to take advantage of this catatonic state. They are an invasive species and are causing tremendous harm to our ecosystem.
I have had the opportunity to remove EIGHT total Iguanas from both Marco Island and Isle of Capri this month. Plus there have been several sightings that were either not in safe a position to remove, or they had moved to an adjacent property where I had not secured that property owner’s permission to remove them. (By law, I must)
I use a very powerful and incredibly accurate PCP .25 caliber air rifle to remove the Iguanas from a property. Typically it is a head or neck shot that brings immediate and deadly results as mandated by the State of Florida, with whom I am permitted as a Wildlife Control Officer. I also am in direct contact with the Marco Island Police Department to ensure that they are informed when I am on a property to remove an Iguana at the owner’s request.
This month I removed two Iguanas from La Peninsula condominium facility right on the banks of the Marco River. The Iguanas are on their seawall, marina docks and climbing on member boats. Not the place where you want to find a lot of Iguana scat or burrows behind your seawall.
Another Condo complex called me for an Iguana removal – Smokehouse Bay. It seems that the Iguanas are hanging out at the pool with the residents. Most of the Iguanas are hiding in the tall hedges and are literally a few feet away from me vs. my usual 20 to 35 yards away. Between buildings, cars and people, it is not a safe environment to shoot with my more powerful air guns. I was safely able to remove one, but I am working on a different solution for these types of locations.
I picked off two from a property just off San Marco – and it looks like there might be more given the burrows and scat. Speaking of which, a client who lives mainly in New England, asked me to check on his NW Marco Island property in his absence. Wow, when he moved out, they moved in and there were SIX large Iguanas living large on his seawall and dock. I got two, but the others dove into the canal. I came back a few days later and the other four were at his absent neighbor’s home. Easy shots, but since I did not have permission from that neighbor, I could not remove them. I tried herding them onto my client’s property and all was going well when the trail Iguana decided to take a stand and turned on me. He got within 5 feet before he and the other three all dove into the canal. I promised them “I’ll Be Back”. I then did a little clean up with my edging tool, I removed 65 individual scat piles from his seawall and dock – Overt 50% of Iguanas are known to carry Salmonella, so please remove scat ASAP as your pets can become very sick and infected.
The last Iguana was the most interesting – Found on landlocked Beachcomber Street. When I arrived at the property the owner was waiting for me on the front porch. As he shook my hand he said, “Shhhh” and pointed over my shoulder toward the street at the open wall with heavy vines growing on it. Not four feet away was a bright green Iguana, halfway up the wall, giving us the eyeball.
See image – Two things were immediately evident, he was way too close for my scoped rifle to even sight him in and any shot into his concrete/brick wall background at an angel would ricochet directly back into his front picture window. Moving to the side put the street and cars in play. I apologized and told him that I would have to pass on the shot and removal as it just was not safe. However, I did have one trick up my sleeve with about a 3% chance of success. I had created a dog-catcher style PCV stick and noose to pull Iguanas out of the canals in case they fall in when I shoot them. It is about 5 feet long and if I can slip the noose over his head without him moving – I’d have him. Yeah right, good luck with that one. I reduced the noose down to a few inches, slowly moved it just over his head, pulled the cord and poof, I plucked him right off the wall . . . That was a first for me and they were thrilled to get the critter off their porch. A pretty good day/month for everyone who was not an Iguana.
If you have an Iguana problem, I am here on the Island to help you permanently remove them. If you see one, call me. 239-344-7706. Most times I am :10 – :15 minutes away. There are no travel fees on the Island and if we do not remove an Iguana, there is no removal fee for the visit and inspection of your property. As I like to say, “Down Goes Iguana.”
May you and your family have a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.
Down Goes Iguana