Emphasizing the issue of invasive species recording 98 iguana eggs found in Miamiyard
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If you think Florida’s Wildest Inhabitants Found only in South Beach, think again.
In the sun-stained suburbs of Palmetto Bay, a Miami homeowner recently discovered she was inadvertently hosting Reptile version Baby shower with 98 uninvited guests.
Eventually she called the expert Humane Iguana Controland what they revealed was surprising even by Florida standards.
“We removed 98 eggs,” Michael Ronquillo, owner of Humane Iguana Control, told Fox News Digital. “The three female iguanas all formed nests in interconnected burrows, each giving birth to their own clutches.”
Iguana was removed from Miami kitchen cabinet after “running into the house”
In what humane iguana control calls “records,” 98 eggs were found and removed this week in a woman’s garden in Miami. (Commentary of humane iguana control)
The discoveries made after some inspections and trap setup have been transformed into something that could become a local record.
“This is the most egg we’ve ever removed from a single site,” Ronkiro said. “We couldn’t find another case where many of them were being pulled out at once.”
It may sound dramatic to people outside of the sun’s state. But for South Floridians, it is another day of life in the fight against invasive wildlife.
“Iguanas are more than annoyance,” Ronkiro said. “They pose health risks, cause landscape destruction and dig burrows that can damage the infrastructure.”
In one infamous example, an event that dug an iguana-related hole in West Palm Beach caused $1.8 million in damage after breaching the dam.
“We’ve seen them dig through the streets, the sidewalks, under the sea walls,” he added. “And if they’re digging in your backyard, you may not know it until the ground collapses under you.”
See it: Iguana removed from fireplace in Florida home: “In the end, anywhere.”
Iguanas can whip their tails up to 30 miles, with razor sharp teeth and claws, beyond causing environmental damage to South Florida. (Commentary of humane iguana control)
Beyond property concerns, there are hygiene issues.
“They defecate around the pool, school and play area. That’s a health hazard,” Ronkiro said. “We get calls from the school where the kids play under the trees. The iguanas are just there… going to the bathroom. Constantly.”
Iguanas laying many eggs as not wild and efficient.
“Iguana eggs have a hatch rate of 93%,” said Ronkiro. “If our client hadn’t called us, the whole neighborhood would have had serious problems in just a few months.”
Why did this garden become an iguana birth ward? Main real estate.
“They’re going to test a lot of spots,” he explained. “If the ground is too hard or too hot, it moves ahead. But this place – soft soil, tints, near water – was perfect. So they’re all locked in it.”
As a homeowner who has discovered an iguana on the scene, it’s even more important to not do so in this situation.
“The worst thing people can do is hide the hole,” Ronkiro said. “We flag our clients in the burrows, use a little irrigation flag or something visible, and call the expert. Once the hole is covered, it will be difficult to compress the soil, dig the right path and remove the eggs.”
Ronquillo’s team uses cameras and hand-drilling to track the iguana tunnel.
“It’s not just about digging holes and pulling something out,” he said. “You need to understand how they move and build their burrows.”
Breeding season usually lasts from February to May, but Longkiro warns that it’s not a surprise.
“We’ve seen baby iguanas in July, August and September,” he said. “So it’s more common in the spring, but technically it can happen all year round.”
Iguanas are not indigenous to Florida, but invasive, and their existence dates back to the 1960s.
Humane Iguana Control is a professionally licensed iguana removal service in South Florida, specializing in removing invading reptiles from private property. (Commentary of humane iguana control)
“The iguanas originally arrived through the pet trade market and freighter,” said Longkiro. “They either float on wood after the hurricane or were released by owners who didn’t care about them.”
Florida’s warm climate, abundant food sources and a lack of natural predators have created optimal conditions for them to thrive and proliferate.
“They eat eggs of native birds, destroy landscaping, and dig burrows that damage roads, sidewalks and even dams,” explained Rongiro. Their impact is so severe that Florida has encouraged them to classify public nuisances and to humane removal efforts.
If you find something to dig, don’t break the shovel.
“Don’t try to get rid of it yourself. You definitely don’t poison the hole,” Ronkiro said. “Flag it and call the licensed removal company.”
These reptiles also have built-in defense mechanisms, so you shouldn’t try this at home.
“They have very sharp claws and teeth, and their tails whip up to 30 mph,” explained Ronkiro. “If you don’t have experience, you could end up with an ER. You’re getting a client to grab one and you’re going to get serious injuries.”
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This Miami homeowner One call prevented nearly 100 invasive reptiles from joining the neighborhood.
“This client helped us stop the whole new intrusion,” said Ronkiro. “If more people behave that quickly, we can really make a difference.”
Ronquillo’s final note: It’s not just one backyard.
“If everyone is doing their part, we can protect our environment and our neighborhood. It really makes a difference, like this client did.”