What Makes Iguanas Invasive
Iguanas are invasive when introduced outside their native range, often through the pet trade or accidental escapes. They reproduce quickly, adapt to warm coastal climates, and thrive in urban and natural areas. With few natural predators, populations can grow rapidly and disrupt local ecosystems.
Ecological and Economic Damage
Invasive iguanas damage crops, eat native plants, and compete with local wildlife for food and shelter. Their burrows can weaken infrastructure such as canals, levees, and foundations. In places like Florida and Puerto Rico, control efforts cost millions of dollars each year for removal, monitoring, and damage repair.
Control and Management Efforts
Management includes trapping, exclusion fencing, and targeted removal programs run by wildlife agencies. Public education encourages responsible pet ownership and discourages releasing iguanas into the wild. In some regions, regulated hunting and incentive programs help reduce populations. Learn more about invasive species management from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at https://www.fws.gov/invasive-species/
