It’s time for another episode of Weird Iguana Tales . . . It seems that our Lanai screens are just too good for the Iguanas to access not only the roof of your screened pool area, but also the roof of your home as well. Of all the places you do NOT want iguanas, your roof is very near the top of the list!
Iguanas can enter small places – Meaning that they can get under your roof tiles, vents, soffits and into your attic. This is not good. The only place worst . . . would be inside your toilet. An iguana can easily hold its breath for over :30 minutes. The Florida FWC has recorded that time up to FOUR hours. If your toilet vent is open on your roof, which most of them are, a small Iguana can come down the vent and end up directly in your toilet when you lift the lid. My favorite Gomer Pyle line was, “Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!” Toilet Iguanas are no joke.
One of my clients here on the Island has Lanai Screen Iguana climbers. With their very sharp claws, they can easily dig into the screen and scramble up to the top to sun themselves and of course just to let you know they were there . . . Poop on the screen as well. On this particular property, they like to dig at the screen until it tears away. See image, this is the THIRD time they have had to repair a torn screen. At least once, the Iguana fell through the screen into the pool and lanai area. Creepy because they like to poop in the pool as well. Let’s not forget, they carry salmonella in their feces and mouths.
To date, I have taken SIX iguanas from their property on multiple trips over the last six weeks. The last trip netted three iguanas and we hope we have almost eradicated them. Of the 48 Iguanas I have removed this year from Marco Island, Five of them have been over 48” in length, very large males and 18 total iguanas for the month of April.
However, we have now entered the Iguana hatch season. Every mature female lays between 20 and 70 eggs per year – average is around 50 eggs. Mating season begins in November and runs through April. It takes 65 days after mating to the laying of the eggs. 90 to 120 days later you have babies – lots of babies. In the last couple of months over 50% of the Iguanas I have removed, have been heavy with eggs. Now is the time to remove an Iguana, BEFORE she lays her eggs.
I live on the Island near Resident’s Beach, If you see something, say something and if available, I will be there within minutes. It is the most effective way to remove Iguanas, as trapping is just not as productive. Call – 239-344-7706. Thank you NEXTDOOR for your help and support.
If you have an Iguana story or problem – write me, I’d love to hear it.