Green Iguana Invasion Growing In South Florida

The green iguana invasion is growing in South Florida as experts say the population is growing at record numbers this year.

The iguanas, which are native to Central and South America and the Caribbean, thrive in Florida’s climate. The state's iguana problem began in the 1960s after some bought as pets escaped into the wild during hurricanes.

Thomas Portuallo, owner of Iguana Control, told the Sun-Sentinel the reptiles are invading Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties by the "hundreds of thousands."

“This year is the most iguanas I’ve seen and I’ve been in business for nine years,” said Portuallo.

Richard Engeman, a biologist for the National Wildlife Research Center, says there is no way to estimate the number of green iguanas in the state. "But the number would be gigantic,” he added. The iguanas lay an average of 40 eggs per year, Engeman says.

Read the Sun-Sentinel story here.

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