If you live in South Florida and feel like tiny dinosaurs are watching you, you’re not imagining things. Green iguanas have overrun neighborhoods from Boca Raton to Coral Gables. People see them on rooftops, lounging across driveways, and swimming in a toilet in one horrifying case.
“They’re everywhere,” said one Delray Beach resident. “You open your front door, and five of them scatter like they own the place.”
This isn’t your average backyard critter problem. These guys are huge—males can stretch over 1.5 meters [5 feet] long, and their tails whip like a garden hose on steroids. They’re also not exactly quiet. Homeowners report hearing what sounds like footsteps on their roofs, only to find an iguana sunbathing on the shingles like it pays rent.
Not Just Ugly—They’re Causing Thousands in Damage
Aside from being unattractive, iguanas are destructive. Their underground burrows collapse sidewalks, erode seawalls, and even threaten the foundations of homes. One Palm Beach couple paid over $10,000 to repair their pool deck after an iguana nest hollowed it out.
And let’s talk about the poop. Iguana droppings aren’t just gross—they’re slippery, smelly, and known to carry salmonella. One Boca Raton park had to be temporarily shut down because walking paths were so coated in iguana scat, it was like nature’s own banana peel gag.
The most outlandish report so far? A man in Coconut Creek says he went to use the bathroom and found a three-foot iguana chilling in the toilet bowl. “I screamed, slammed the lid, and called animal control,” he said. “Now I check every time.”
Florida Gives Green Light to Eliminate on Sight
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has had enough. Iguanas are considered an invasive species with no protections, and residents are encouraged to kill them—humanely, of course—without needing any sort of permit. If it’s on your property, it’s fair game.
Some people call pest control. Others take matters into their own hands—using BB guns, slingshots, or even blunt objects. “A guy down the street uses a tennis racket,” said one amused homeowner. “He’s pretty accurate, too.”
Professional removal teams are raking in business. One pest control expert claimed he removed 32 iguanas from a single backyard in Coral Springs. “It looked like a lizard frat party back there,” he joked. “They weren’t even scared of me.”
Why Now? Blame the Weather… and the Lack of Predators
Wildlife experts say the surge is due to several factors. Florida had a warm winter, which kept iguanas from entering their usual cold-weather coma, known as “cold-stunning.” Normally, when temps drop below 10°C [50°F], iguanas freeze up and fall from trees—literally. But this year, there was no tree rain.
Add in easy access to food, fewer predators, and plenty of places to dig, and boom—iguana city.
Efforts to control the population are ongoing, but for now, South Florida residents are advised to clear bushes, fill in burrows, and, most importantly, always check the toilet before sitting down.
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