Iguana Removal and Deterrence in Broward County: Fort Lauderdale Canals, Coral Springs, and Hollywood

Iguanas in Broward County: From Exotic Novelty to Major Nuisance

The green iguana (*Iguana iguana*) arrived in South Florida as an escaped or released pet and has established one of the largest invasive iguana populations in the world right here in Broward County. What began as occasional sightings in Fort Lauderdale in the 1960s and 1970s has become an entrenched, established population numbering in the hundreds of thousands across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties.

Today, iguanas are not a novelty in Broward County — they are a serious nuisance pest. Canal-front homeowners in Fort Lauderdale watch iguanas swim through their backyards and emerge on their docks and decks. Coral Springs residents find iguana burrows undermining sidewalks and seawalls. Hollywood homeowners deal with iguana droppings contaminating pool decks, docks, and outdoor furniture.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) policy is clear: green iguanas are an invasive species on private property and may be humanely removed by property owners or by licensed wildlife professionals at any time, without a license or permit. They are not protected under state or federal law.

Why Iguanas Are a Problem in Broward County

Landscaping Destruction

Green iguanas are primarily herbivores with voracious appetites. In Fort Lauderdale's year-round growing climate, they feed on flowering plants (particularly hibiscus, orchids, and bougainvillea), vegetable gardens, newly planted landscape material and sod, and fruit including mangoes, guavas, and citrus. A single large iguana can devastate a carefully maintained South Florida garden. Multiple iguanas — and they often congregate in groups — can strip landscaping that took years to establish within days.

Structural Damage

Iguanas are powerful diggers. Their burrowing activity in canal banks throughout Broward County undermines seawalls and embankments, contributing to erosion and structural failures. Burrows under concrete slabs, foundations, and sidewalks are documented throughout Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Coral Springs, creating expensive repair needs.

Pool and Dock Contamination

Iguanas defecate wherever they rest, and their droppings can carry *Salmonella* bacteria. Pool deck and dock contamination is one of the most common iguana complaints in Broward County canal-front communities. An iguana that defecates in a swimming pool creates a genuine public health concern requiring shocking and cleanup before the pool is used again.

Aggressive Behavior

While iguanas generally avoid confrontation, large adults — males can exceed five feet in length — will scratch and bite if cornered or handled improperly. Territorial males during breeding season can be unpredictably aggressive toward people and pets in Fort Lauderdale yards.

Why Iguana Populations Have Exploded in Broward County

• Absence of natural predators: Iguanas in South Florida face few predators that significantly limit populations.

• Ideal climate: Broward County's climate is essentially identical to their native Central and South American range, allowing year-round activity and reproduction.

• Abundant food and habitat: Broward County's lush residential landscaping provides an essentially unlimited food supply. Canal banks and seawalls provide ideal basking and burrowing habitat.

Professional Iguana Removal Methods

Trapping

Live cage traps baited with preferred iguana foods (hibiscus flowers, mango, leafy greens) are placed in areas of high iguana activity. FWC regulations require that trapped iguanas be humanely euthanized on-site or immediately after capture — relocating iguanas to another location is not permitted and simply spreads the problem.

Snare Pole Removal

Skilled wildlife professionals can physically capture iguanas using pole snares — most effective for targeting specific problem animals in specific locations.

Exclusion and Deterrence

• Seawall caps and slope modifications: Vertical seawalls with smooth metal flashing at the waterline make them difficult for iguanas to climb.

• Exclusion screening: Pool enclosures provide the best barrier to iguana access.

• Landscaping modification: Replacing iguana-preferred plants with iguana-resistant species reduces the food attraction of your property.

• Motion-activated deterrents: Sprinklers, lights, and sound devices activated by motion can deter iguanas from specific areas when used consistently.

Neighborhood-Specific Concerns in Broward County

Fort Lauderdale's canal network sustains some of Broward County's largest iguana populations. Waterfront properties throughout Fort Lauderdale Isles, Rio Vista, and Las Olas Isles face heavy iguana pressure from canal-based populations that are effectively inexhaustible.

Coral Springs communities in northwest Broward County report significant iguana activity in community common areas, along canal banks, and on residential properties backing to water.

Hollywood sees heavy iguana activity in waterfront neighborhoods near Hollywood Beach and along the Intracoastal, and in inland neighborhoods where established populations have expanded.

Don't Wait for the Problem to Grow

Iguana populations are self-reinforcing — the longer you wait, the more established they become on your property. Call (954) 903-4362 today to schedule an iguana assessment. Our wildlife specialists will evaluate your Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, or Hollywood property and develop an appropriate removal and deterrence plan.