The proliferation of iguanas in non-native environments has led to significant issues for property owners. These large, herbivorous lizards cause extensive damage to landscaping, consume ornamental plants, and undermine infrastructure with their burrowing habits. Iguanas also leave behind large amounts of droppings, creating an unsanitary environment that can carry Salmonella bacteria. Successfully managing their presence requires making the property inhospitable to these invasive reptiles.
Physical Barriers and Exclusion Techniques
Physical exclusion is the most reliable, long-term solution for protecting specific areas from iguanas. The goal is to install barriers that prevent access to vulnerable spots, requiring both fencing and sealing entry points. Since iguanas are skilled climbers and diggers, barriers must account for both vertical and subterranean access.
To protect ground-level areas, exclusion fencing should use sturdy materials like hardware cloth or galvanized wire mesh. This barrier needs to be buried 6 to 12 inches deep and bent outward in an “L” shape to discourage burrowing underneath it. The fence material must be rigid enough to prevent the lizards from pushing through or climbing over.
For elevated structures, pool cages, patios, and docks can be protected by reinforcing screen enclosures with heavy-duty screening or wire mesh. Wrapping the trunks of trees, palms, and dock pilings with smooth sheet metal or aluminum flashing creates a slick surface iguanas cannot grip to climb past.
Homeowners should also seal all potential access points into sheds, under patios, and beneath foundations. Wire mesh or hardware cloth can cover gaps and cracks, preventing iguanas from utilizing these spaces for shelter or nesting burrows. Filling existing burrows with sand and concrete is necessary, but only when the animals are confirmed to be outside.
Removing Attractants Through Habitat Modification
Modifying the landscape to eliminate food, basking sites, and shelter reduces the property’s appeal to iguanas. Since iguanas are primarily herbivores, removing their preferred food sources is crucial. They are known to feed on plants with tender leaves and bright flowers, including:
- Hibiscus
- Orchids
- Roses
- Various vegetable plants
Property owners can replace these appealing plants with iguana-resistant species that have tough, waxy, or strong-smelling leaves. Less palatable options include:
- Oleander
- Milkweed
- Pentas
- Citrus trees
Immediately removing fallen fruit, such as mangos or berries, also eliminates an easy food source.
Beyond food, iguanas seek out safe spots to bask and hide. They thrive in dense, overgrown vegetation, rock piles, and debris, which offer both cover from predators and thermal regulation. Trimming dense shrubs and trees, especially branches that overhang roofs or fences, removes prime basking spots and limits their ability to move across the property.
Removing potential hiding spots, like thickets or piles of wood, makes the environment feel exposed and less secure for the lizards. This also applies to nesting sites, as iguanas prefer to lay eggs in sandy or loose soil. Consolidating the landscape to remove loose soil areas or filling in vacant burrows discourages reproductive activity.
Active Sensory Deterrents and Repellents
Active sensory deterrents are useful for immediately discouraging iguanas from specific locations, though they often require frequent reapplication and rotation. These methods work by irritating the lizard’s senses or startling them with sudden, unexpected stimuli.
Taste and smell repellents frequently utilize natural compounds like capsaicin (the chemical responsible for the heat in chili peppers) or concentrated garlic oil. Capsaicin-based sprays can be applied directly to plants or surfaces, creating a distasteful barrier that discourages iguanas from feeding or basking there.
Iguanas possess a sensitive sense of smell, making strong odors like garlic particularly effective. These liquid repellents must be reapplied regularly, especially after rain or irrigation, since the active ingredients wash away easily. The temporary nature of these sprays means they are best used in conjunction with more permanent exclusion and habitat modifications.
Motion-activated sprinklers are highly effective active deterrents. These devices use an infrared sensor to detect the heat and movement of an encroaching animal, triggering a sudden, startling burst of water. The unexpected spray of water, often accompanied by a mechanical clicking noise, frightens the iguanas away without causing harm.
Less effective are stationary visual deterrents like plastic owls or reflective tape. Iguanas can quickly become accustomed to these fixed objects (habituation), which necessitates periodically moving the deterrents to maintain their effectiveness. Motion-activated sprinklers avoid this issue because the surprise element remains a powerful negative reinforcement.