If you’ve been to Key West before, especially in the cooler months, you’ve probably seen these small green reptiles sunning on a fence post, or maybe even on a car. But they have become quite the nuisance in Key West, tearing up and feasting on gardens and leaving droppings.
“I live it and see it every day,” Mayor Mario Di Gennaro said of their droppings. “It’s very powerful and strong and it’s not healthy.”
With the exploding number of iguanas, the Monroe County Commission passed a resolution which asks the state to “enact regulations governing the possession, distribution or release of iguanas within the state.”
State wildlife officials concede iguanas are not only a problem in Key West but across south Florida. But, they also point out that their numbers are already too high and they’re reproducing faster than the state can control them.
Some counties have already taken action. Palm Beach County listed the green beasts as a “species of concern” and in 2006, Lee County created a special taxing district to raise money to eradicate them. A new state law went into effect July 1st that allows individuals to humanely kill iguanas. One popular method is to trap and freeze the animal.
So when you’re walking around Key West or the luscious grounds of the Tropical Inn, be on the lookout for these interesting green creatures!
