Iguanas are the number one invasive species problem for Southwest Florida homeowners. If you have iguanas on your property, you need a plan, not just a trap. A single trap will not solve a problem that involves burrows, nesting, food sources, and neighboring populations that keep pushing new iguanas onto your lot. This guide breaks down what works, what does not, and why professional removal is the only approach that holds up over time.
Why Iguanas Are on Your Property
Iguanas are not random visitors. They show up because your property offers something they need. Understanding what is attracting them is the first step in getting rid of them for good.
Green iguanas are drawn to properties that provide:
- Food: Iguanas eat a wide range of plants, flowers, and fruits. Hibiscus, orchids, garden greens, and fallen fruit are all targets.
- Warmth: Iguanas are cold-blooded and need heat from the sun or warm surfaces like concrete, pavers, and rooftops to regulate their body temperature.
- Water: Swimming pools, ponds, lakes, and irrigation systems give iguanas a steady water source.
- Basking spots: Seawalls, docks, fences, and open sunny areas are prime basking locations where iguanas gather during the day.
- Soft soil for burrows: Iguanas dig burrows that go 6 feet deep and 80 feet long. Soft soil near seawalls, foundations, and lake banks is ideal for burrowing.
Iguanas are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. If you see them on your property in the morning or afternoon, they are feeding, basking, or returning to a burrow that may already be established on your land.
DIY Methods That Do Not Work
Homeowners try a lot of things before calling a professional. Most of these approaches fail, and some are illegal.
- Repellents: There is no repellent on the market that effectively keeps iguanas away. Sprays and granules may smell bad, but iguanas will ignore them if the food and shelter are worth staying for.
- Pellet guns in residential areas: Many municipalities in Southwest Florida ban the discharge of firearms, including air guns, in residential neighborhoods. Even where it is technically allowed, it is rarely practical or safe.
- Trapping without burrow remediation: Catching a few iguanas in a trap does nothing if the burrows under your seawall or foundation are still intact. New iguanas will move in within weeks.
- Relocating iguanas: It is illegal to capture an iguana and release it somewhere else in Florida. This is one of the most misunderstood parts of the law. Once captured, the iguana must be removed by a permitted professional.
DIY Methods That Help
While you cannot solve an iguana problem on your own, there are steps you can take to make your property less attractive and support a professional removal plan.
Remove Food Sources
Pick up fallen fruit, protect garden beds with netting or fencing, and avoid planting species that iguanas favor. Removing food sources alone will not drive iguanas away, but it removes one reason for them to stay.
Plant Iguana-Resistant Plants
Some plants are naturally unappealing to iguanas. Consider replacing buffet plants with:
- Oleander
- Milkweed
- Crotons
- Citrus
- Jasmine
- Society garlic
These plants are not a guarantee, but they reduce the appeal of your landscaping.
Trim Shrubs and Vegetation
Keep shrubs trimmed at least 2 feet away from your house. Dense vegetation near the foundation gives iguanas cover and makes burrow entrances harder to spot. Trimming also improves visibility so you or a professional can inspect for burrow activity.
Fill Burrow Entrances (Temporary)
You can fill the visible entrance of an iguana burrow with soil or gravel. But this is only a temporary fix. Iguana burrows go 6 feet deep and 80 feet long. Filling the entrance does not collapse the tunnel or remove the structural void underground. Without full excavation and backfill, the burrow will be reopened or the void will continue to threaten your seawall or foundation.
Why Professional Removal Is the Only Long-Term Solution
Getting rid of iguanas permanently requires a systematic approach that addresses the animals, the burrows, and the conditions that attracted them in the first place. Rocky's Cane Toad and Iguana Management holds a Conditional/Prohibited/Nonnative Species Permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and is licensed and insured.
A professional removal plan includes:
- FWC-permitted removal methods: Hand capture, noosing, trapping, and air rifle dispatch within FWC and local rules. No poisons, because no poisons are registered or legal for iguanas in Florida.
- Weekly suppression: Iguana populations rebound quickly. Weekly visits keep the population from rebuilding between visits.
- Burrow excavation and backfill: Burrows are fully excavated, not just filled at the entrance. Proper backfilling with compacted soil eliminates the underground void that threatens structures.
- Nesting season sweeps: Nesting season runs April through October, with females laying 30 to 70 eggs per clutch. Sweeps during this period remove breeding iguanas before the population explodes.
- Prevention plans: Ongoing monitoring, hot spot mapping, and documentation keep the problem from returning after the initial removal.
General pest control companies do not handle wildlife. If you have iguanas, you need a wildlife professional with the right permit, the right methods, and a plan for the long term.
Get a Free Inspection
If you are dealing with iguanas on your property in Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero, Port Royal, Sanibel, or Captiva, the first step is a free property inspection. Rocky's will assess your property, identify burrows and active iguanas, and recommend a removal plan. No pressure, no obligation. Call (239) 922-5992 to schedule your free inspection today. We offer same-day response and 24/7 emergency service.