13 votes

Out of control iguanas infesting South Florida

3 comments

  1. [3]
    JamesTeaKirk
    Link

    The prehistoric populations are multiplying like rabbits, and causing internet, phone and power outages (barbecued lizard, anyone?), damaging landscapes, levees, seawalls, roofs and patios, and contaminating pools with poop.

    “There’s no real way to come up with a valid estimate of the number of green iguanas in Florida. But the number would be gigantic,” says Richard Engeman, a biologist for the National Wildlife Research Center. “You could put any number of zeros behind a number, and I would believe it.”

    It is legal to shoot iguanas in the head with a pellet gun, stab them in the brain and even decapitate them as long as they don’t suffer, according to state law. University of Florida researches say bashing in an iguana’s head and destroying its brain quickly is the most humane way to kill one.

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      Neverland
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I dealt with these guys a lot in The Florida Keys. The only way to deal with iguanas and the lion fish invasion is to put them on the menu. Humans have a long history of bringing species they eat...

      I dealt with these guys a lot in The Florida Keys.

      The only way to deal with iguanas and the lion fish invasion is to put them on the menu.

      Humans have a long history of bringing species they eat to extinction. It would be good to put that feature of our species to a positive use for once.

      Edit: last paragraph

      1 vote
      1. saltwater
        Link Parent
        It's amazing how many species we simply ate to extinction: see Dodos.

        It's amazing how many species we simply ate to extinction: see Dodos.

        2 votes