Iguanas in Florida (2026): The Invasive Lizard Explained

How Did Iguanas Get to Florida?

Green iguanas are not native to Florida. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), they were first reported in the 1960s in Hialeah, Coral Gables and Key Biscayne in Miami-Dade County. Escaped and released pets are considered the main source. For decades, inexpensive hatchling iguanas were sold widely in the pet trade, and some owners released iguanas that grew too big. Iguanas may also have arrived on cargo ships, and some may have floated in on debris after storms.

South Florida's warm climate, abundant landscape plants and network of canals suited them well. The FWC notes that canals act as corridors that help iguanas spread.

Where Iguanas Live in Florida

The FWC lists established green iguana populations along the Atlantic coast in Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties, and on the Gulf coast in Collier and Lee counties. Iguanas reported farther north, such as in Alachua, Hillsborough or St. Lucie counties, are likely escaped or released pets, because iguanas are not cold-hardy and are unlikely to establish there.

Region	Status
Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, Monroe (Keys)	Established populations
Lee and Collier (Southwest Florida)	Established populations
Central and North Florida	Occasional sightings, mostly escaped or released pets

In the wild, iguanas in Florida favor trees near water, canal banks, seawalls, vacant lots and parks, using burrows, culverts, drainage pipes and rock piles for shelter.

Why Iguanas Are a Problem in Florida

The FWC describes green iguanas as invasive because of the damage they cause:

• Landscaping: they eat flowers, fruit, vegetables and many ornamental plants, including hibiscus, roses and orchids.
• Infrastructure: their burrows erode and collapse sidewalks, foundations, seawalls, berms and canal banks.
• Droppings: they leave droppings on docks, boats, decks and pool areas, and in pools.
• Disease: they can carry Salmonella bacteria, which can spread through contaminated water and surfaces.
• Native wildlife: iguanas have eaten native tree snails, and at Bahia Honda State Park they have eaten nickerbean, a host plant of the endangered Miami blue butterfly.

Florida Iguana Laws

Green iguanas were added to Florida's prohibited species list effective April 29, 2021. Under FWC rules:

• Green iguanas are protected only by anti-cruelty law.
• They can be humanely killed year-round on private property with the landowner's permission, and on 32 public lands in South Florida without a permit or hunting license.
• People who owned pet green iguanas before the rule took effect need a permit to keep them.
• A permit is required to possess live captured iguanas, and iguanas cannot be relocated and released elsewhere in Florida.
• The FWC's Exotic Pet Amnesty Program accepts unwanted pets, including iguanas, without penalty.

Our guide on how to get rid of iguanas explains legal removal options, deterrents and when to call a professional.

Why Iguana Numbers Keep Growing

Green iguanas reproduce quickly. The FWC notes that females mature at two to four years old and lay clutches of 14 to 76 eggs, often in sandy areas such as canal banks and beaches, sometimes in elaborate tunnel systems nearly 80 feet long. South Florida offers mild winters, abundant food in gardens and landscaping, and few predators that regularly eat adult iguanas. Raccoons, birds of prey, wading birds, snakes, cats and dogs take eggs and young, but not enough to keep numbers down.

Cold snaps kill some iguanas, but survivors keep breeding, and populations generally rebound. That is why the FWC encourages ongoing removal on private property and why many cities and homeowners' associations hire removal companies.

Reporting Iguanas and Other Invasive Species

You can report sightings of nonnative wildlife to the FWC through its Exotic Species Hotline (888-IveGot1, or 888-483-4681) or the IveGot1 reporting app and website. Reports are especially useful from areas outside the established range, such as Central and North Florida, where early removal can stop new populations from forming.

If you have a pet iguana you can no longer care for, the FWC's Exotic Pet Amnesty Program will take it without penalty. Releasing pets into the wild is illegal and is how Florida's iguana problem began.

Living with Iguanas: A Homeowner's Checklist

• Remove fallen fruit and protect vegetable gardens.
• Fill empty burrows and repair seawall gaps early.
• Add metal collars to trees and trim branches near roofs and pools.
• Clean droppings from docks, decks and pools promptly, and wash your hands afterward.
• Keep children and pets away from droppings and from cornered iguanas.
• Hire a licensed nuisance wildlife professional for large or persistent problems.

Hunting Iguanas in Florida

Because green iguanas are protected only by anti-cruelty law, they can be hunted year-round without a license on private property with permission and on 32 FWC-designated public lands, as long as killing is humane and local weapon rules are followed. See our Florida iguana hunting guide.

Cold Snaps and Falling Iguanas

Iguanas are cold-blooded and tropical. When South Florida temperatures fall to around 40°F or below, they become stunned and may fall from trees. Many recover as they warm up, but long cold spells kill large numbers. During the record cold snap in early February 2026, the FWC temporarily allowed residents to bring live cold-stunned iguanas to drop-off sites, and more than 5,195 were turned in. Read falling iguanas for what happens and what to do.

Florida vs. Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico faces an even larger green iguana problem, with no cold weather to limit numbers. See iguanas in Puerto Rico.

Other Invasive Iguanas in Florida

Green iguanas are not Florida's only nonnative iguanas. Black spiny-tailed iguanas have been established since around the late 1970s, notably on Gasparilla Island and in parts of southeast Florida and the Keys, and the Mexican spiny-tailed iguana has smaller populations. Spiny-tailed iguanas eat animals as well as plants. See our spiny-tailed iguana guide.

Are Florida Iguanas Dangerous?

Iguanas avoid people and are not venomous. Bites are uncommon and usually happen when someone tries to grab or corner one, but adult iguanas can bite hard, scratch and lash their tails. The main health concern is Salmonella from droppings, so keep pools clean, wash hands after yard work and keep children away from iguana droppings. See do iguanas bite? and iguanas and Salmonella.

Can You Eat Florida Iguanas?

Yes. The FWC has said it is legal to eat iguana meat in Florida, and iguana has long been eaten in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. The meat must be handled carefully and cooked thoroughly. Read can you eat iguana? for safety and legal details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Green Iguana; Florida Museum of Natural History, Tell Me About Green Iguanas; WLRN, Cold-Stunned Iguanas (February 2026).