Feral Iguana in Florida

Feral iguanas are common in some parts of southern Florida. The wild green iguanas in Florida are a mix of former pets and the offspring of these animals. Green iguanas are generally thought not to be native to the United States. This places wild green iguanas in the category of “invasive” or “exotic” species -- non-native species that have been introduced into a new habitat and which often cause damage to the ecosystem. (Florida is overrun with invasive species, such as the Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades, most of which come from the pet trade). Because of their tropical nature, pet green iguanas that have escaped or have been released by irresponsible owners have thrived in southern Florida, and their populations are growing rapidly. While some people find wild green iguanas to be a beautiful addition to the Florida ecosystem, the sad fact is that they do not belong there. As a consequence, at this time, they do not have a balanced place in the ecosystem with predators and competitors to keep their populations in check. To date, very little has been done to study the ecological impact that green iguanas may have in Florida.

Despite its name, the Green Iguana may be brown, gray, black or dark green. The males turn orange when they are mating. Babies and juveniles are bright green, and adults have black bands on their sides and tails.

Green Iguanas are herbivores and live on vegetation. They like to eat brightly colored flowers like hibiscus, orchids, and bougainvillea. If you leave iguanas alone, they will not approach you or threaten you or your pets. However, if you corner them, they may bite, scratch, or whip you with their tail in self-defense. Both males and females are territorial and will defend the trees they live in and the area around them.