Hurricane Ian took a toll on Southwest Florida affecting our lives and the flora and fauna of the local area. But how did it affect our Iguana population as they are both very good swimmers and climbers – Key survival skills during a hurricane.
Monday, October 3rd – Just 5 days after Hurricane Ian ravaged Marco Island we were still in full clean up mode when my cross canal neighbor called to alert me to a huge Iguana that had previously been tearing up their yard and seawall area for the past several months. They thought it had moved on, but here it was defecating on their dock. (Note – It is reported that up to 40% of Iguanas carry Salmonella which and be deadly for your pets. Alway clean Iguana scat ASAP from your seawalls and docks)
Being local and close to an Iguana sighting, like I am on Marco Island, is very advantageous to the success of taking an invasive Iguana off a property. Being in virtually my own neighborhood is death wish for an Iguana.
After taking a side angle and lining up his massive head with a dock piling for safety, it took but one shot to instantly drop him right where he laid. Problem solved.
He was one of the largest Iguanas I have come across . . . He measured out at a whopping 5 feet 2 inches. Definitely a real problem when it comes to digging and voraciously eating the gardens and vegetation in our neighborhood.
One of the images below show the massive claws on this guy. Incredible.
Down Goes Iguana
