The non-native Green Iguana has become an established invasive species in warmer regions like South Florida, presenting significant challenges for property owners. These large reptiles thrive in the subtropical climate, and their population has expanded rapidly due to a lack of natural predators. Iguanas cause extensive damage to residential and commercial infrastructure. Their feeding habits decimate garden plants, while their burrowing activity undermines sidewalks, foundations, and seawalls, necessitating costly repairs. Controlling these reptiles requires a persistent strategy focused on making the property unattractive and inaccessible.
Removing Property Attractants
The most effective long-term defense against iguanas involves modifying the landscape to eliminate their primary survival resources: food and shelter. Iguanas are herbivores that prefer brightly colored, tender vegetation, such as hibiscus, roses, and orchids. Homeowners should replace these highly palatable species with iguana-resistant alternatives, including citrus, oleander, or plants with tough, thick, or waxy leaves.
Eliminating readily available food sources is another immediate step, such as harvesting ripe fruit promptly and clearing any fallen fruit. Pet food or water left outside can also unintentionally attract iguanas, so securing these items is necessary. Iguanas seek shelter for basking and nesting, making the removal of dense ground cover, debris piles, and low-hanging branches a priority. Females dig intricate tunnels for egg-laying, which destabilizes soil and structures. Filling existing iguana burrows with soil or sand during the day helps prevent their return.
Physical Barriers and Exclusion Techniques
Physical exclusion is often the most reliable method for deterring iguanas by directly blocking their access to vulnerable areas. Since iguanas are skilled climbers and burrowers, standard fencing is usually insufficient. To prevent iguanas from digging beneath barriers, an L-shaped galvanized wire mesh barrier is recommended, which involves burying the wire vertically four to six inches deep and bending the bottom outward to create a horizontal flap extending approximately ten inches beneath the surface.
Protecting trees and palms involves wrapping the trunks with a smooth material, such as sheet metal or plastic sheeting, extending at least 18 inches up from the ground. This slick surface prevents the reptiles from gaining the necessary grip to climb.
Trimming tree branches that overhang structures, such as roofs or fences, removes a bridge allowing iguanas to bypass ground-level barriers. For waterfront properties, installing wire barriers along seawalls prevents iguanas from easily climbing onto the property from the water.
Sensory Repellents and Deterrents
Repellents that target an iguana’s senses of smell and taste can act as a secondary defense, though they require frequent reapplication. Iguanas dislike strong odors like garlic, capsaicin from hot peppers, and citrus. Commercial repellents often utilize these compounds, or natural oils such as cedar and neem, to create an unpleasant taste or scent barrier on plants and surfaces.
Non-chemical scare tactics can also be employed to disrupt the reptiles’ activities, as iguanas are easily startled. Motion-activated sprinklers provide an immediate, harmless deterrent by spraying a burst of water when an iguana enters a protected area. Hanging reflective items (such as old CDs) or installing wind chimes creates visual and auditory disturbances, making the area less appealing for sunbathing and foraging. These methods offer temporary relief but are generally less effective than habitat modification and physical barriers.
When to Call Professional Removal Services
When deterrence methods fail, or a large iguana population has become established, professional removal services become the safest and most legally compliant option. In Florida, iguanas are classified as a non-native, invasive species, meaning they are not protected except by anti-cruelty laws. Homeowners can humanely remove them from private property without a permit, but the method must adhere to humane standards. The use of poisons is strictly illegal, and the relocation of captured iguanas is prohibited by state law.
Professionals are trained to use humane traps and, if necessary, perform euthanasia according to American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines, which is not recommended for homeowners. A professional can also safely access iguanas hiding in difficult locations, such as inside attics or deep within structural burrows, ensuring the complete and legal resolution of a severe infestation.