Following the February cold snap, which resulted in thousands of iguanas being captured or dying, sightings noticeably decreased. For weeks, the usual influx of phone calls to iguana-removal companies slowed down. But lately, business has been picking up again. These companies expect the upcoming hatching season to not only restore the population but also to set the stage for even more iguanas in the months ahead.

The freeze took a toll. In February, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that collection points received over 5,000 dead or frozen iguanas, and they collected at least 8,000 overall. Floridians lack a reliable method to determine the number of green iguanas living in Florida or how many succumbed to the cold snap. The true scope of the population is anybody’s guess.

Hatching season is right around the corner, beginning in June and peaking in July. Removal experts say this is when any short-term dip in iguana numbers will bounce back. Female iguanas lay anywhere from 14 to 71 eggs at a time. With those kinds of numbers, a single hatching season goes a long way to replenish the population.

Iguana-removal services felt the freeze, too. They usually see about 30% growth in annual revenue, but this year it’s down to 15–17%, a clear sign that the population took a hit. Still, some experts say the iguana boom is happening quicker than people realize. Business has almost rebounded to last year’s levels, and sightings are way up compared to last May.

Of course, warmer weather always sparks more iguana activity. These cold-blooded lizards thrive as temperatures climb, eating and moving more when it’s hot outside. Spring and summer also bring out bright flowers, which attract hungry iguanas to residential yards.

All this has sparked debate among Floridians. Some Floridians want to leave the iguanas alone; but with such high reproduction rates and the reptiles’ resilience, iguanas seem destined to remain part of the South Florida landscape for the foreseeable future.

Click here for information about the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

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