Invasive Iguanas Expanding Inland from Southwest Florida Coastlines into Estate Properties

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NAPLES, FLORIDA - September 07, 2026

Rocky's Cane Toad and Iguana Management, a licensed wildlife removal company serving Southwest Florida, is reporting a significant increase in iguana activity at inland estate properties across Naples, Bonita Springs, and Estero. The shift marks a notable expansion of a problem that was once concentrated almost entirely along coastal areas, seawalls, and beachfront communities.

Historically, green iguana populations in Southwest Florida have been densest along the coast. Beachfront homes, canal-front properties, and communities with direct waterfront access have borne the brunt of iguana burrow damage for years. However, Rocky's field teams are now responding to an increasing number of calls from properties several miles inland, including gated estate communities, golf course developments, and agricultural parcels where iguanas were rarely seen as recently as two years ago.

Population Pressure Pushes Iguanas Inland

Chris Rockwell, owner of Rocky's Cane Toad and Iguana Management, attributes the inland expansion to a combination of population growth and territorial competition. As coastal iguana populations have grown unchecked, dominant males have pushed younger animals out of established territories near the water. Those displaced iguanas are moving inland along canal systems, tree lines, and golf course corridors, establishing new burrows in areas where residents have never had to deal with iguanas before.

"We are seeing iguanas in estate communities ten miles from the coast that had never had a single iguana sighting three years ago. The coastal populations have grown so large that the animals are being pushed inland along canals and tree corridors. Once they find a property with good soil and landscaping, they dig in and start a new colony. The estate properties in Naples, Bonita, and Estero are prime territory because they have large lots, mature landscaping, and soft soil that is easy to burrow into."

- Chris Rockwell, Owner, Rocky's Cane Toad and Iguana Management

The inland expansion is not limited to a single species. Green iguanas remain the primary concern, but Rocky's has also documented spiny-tailed iguana activity at inland properties, particularly around rock walls, retaining structures, and concrete slab foundations where these animals prefer to dig.

Burrow Damage Is the Primary Concern

The structural threat from inland iguana burrows is the same as it is on the coast, but inland property owners are often less prepared for it. Iguana burrows can extend 6 feet deep and up to 80 feet long, running beneath foundations, driveways, pool decks, and retaining walls. On large estate lots, burrows can go unnoticed for months because they are established in areas of the property that owners do not visit daily.

Rockwell notes that the damage is often more advanced by the time inland property owners discover the problem, because they are not actively looking for iguana signs the way waterfront owners have learned to.

"Waterfront homeowners in Port Royal and along the beaches have been dealing with iguanas long enough that they know what to look for. They spot the burrows early. Inland estate owners are catching it later, sometimes after a burrow has already undermined a pool deck or a driveway. By the time they call us, the repair cost is already in the thousands. That is why we want to get the word out now."

- Chris Rockwell, Owner, Rocky's Cane Toad and Iguana Management

FWC-Permitted Removal and Service Area

Rocky's Cane Toad and Iguana Management holds a Conditional/Prohibited/Nonnative Species Permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. All removal work is conducted in compliance with FWC regulations using humane, Florida-compliant methods. The company is fully licensed and insured.

Rocky's serves the following Southwest Florida communities: Naples, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero, Port Royal, Sanibel, and Captiva. Free property inspections are available for homeowners, estate owners, HOAs, and golf course communities that suspect iguana activity on their land.

Rockwell encourages inland property owners who see large lizards on their property to take a photo and call for a free inspection rather than waiting for burrow damage to become visible. Early detection and removal can prevent the structural damage that makes iguana infestations expensive to remediate.

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