On Jan. 30, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued a new executive order outlining special regulations designed to temporarily allow people to remove live, cold-stunned green iguanas from the wild without a permit and bring them directly to five designated FWC offices in the South and Southwest Regions on Sunday, Feb. 1 and Monday, Feb. 2. Green iguanas are an invasive lizard in Florida that have adverse impacts on Florida’s environment and economy.
When temperatures drop and sustain to near-freezing or below, reptiles and amphibians, including nonnative green iguanas, can go into a state of torpor, where they temporarily lose muscle control and appear “frozen” — sometimes even falling out of trees. The FWC reminds the public that if you encounter a cold-stunned green iguana, you should never bring it into your home or building to warm up and never put it into your vehicle unless specifically transporting to the FWC under the regulations of EO 26-03. Iguanas can recover from cold-stunning more quickly than you might expect and, once recovered, can act defensively, with long tails that whip and sharp teeth and claws.
The special regulations under Executive Order 26-03 provide a unique opportunity for members of the public to remove green iguanas from their property during this unusual cold-weather event and bring them to the FWC, no permit required, to be humanely killed or, in some cases, transferred to permittees for live animal sales. Green iguanas are a Prohibited species in Florida, and other than during the dates listed within EO 26-03, may not be possessed without a permit — including temporarily, such as during transport. EO 26-03 allows people without a permit to be in temporary possession of Prohibited green iguanas so they may collect and transport cold-stunned iguanas to the FWC.
Special regulations under EO 26-03 include:
The special regulations under Executive Order 26-03 provide a unique opportunity for members of the public to remove green iguanas from their property during this unusual cold-weather event and bring them to the FWC, no permit required, to be humanely killed or, in some cases, transferred to permittees for live animal sales. Green iguanas are a Prohibited species in Florida, and other than during the dates listed within EO 26-03, may not be possessed without a permit — including temporarily, such as during transport. EO 26-03 allows people without a permit to be in temporary possession of Prohibited green iguanas so they may collect and transport cold-stunned iguanas to the FWC.
Special regulations under EO 26-03 include:
Staff at five FWC locations will be receiving wild, cold-stunned iguanas collected by the public on Sunday, Feb. 1 from 9 a.m.-noon, and on Monday, Feb. 2 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Drop-off locations include:
FWC South Florida Regional Lab, 2796 Overseas Highway 119, Marathon, FL 33050
FWC Office, 10052 NW 53rd Street , Sunrise, FL 33351
FWC Tequesta Field Lab, 19100 SE Federal Highway (US 1), Tequesta, FL 33469
FWC Law Enforcement Office, 2423 Edwards Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33901
FWC Southwest Regional Office, 3900 Drane Field Road, Lakeland, FL 33811.
FWC Office, 10052 NW 53rd Street , Sunrise, FL 33351
FWC Tequesta Field Lab, 19100 SE Federal Highway (US 1), Tequesta, FL 33469
FWC Law Enforcement Office, 2423 Edwards Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33901
FWC Southwest Regional Office, 3900 Drane Field Road, Lakeland, FL 33811.
People without a permit may only be in possession of live green iguanas for the purpose of transport to the FWC and under the regulations of the executive order.
Removal of green iguanas may be done by property owners or by members of the public with landowner permission. The regulations also apply to any Commission-managed property in the South and Southwest regions.
When collecting live, cold stunned green iguanas for removal, members of the public should wear protective gloves, pants and long-sleeved shirts to protect themselves from potential scratches. The iguanas must be contained in a secure, escape-proof, cloth sack or bag. Only cloth sacks or bags may be used for primary containment to ensure breathability, and they must be securely closed shut. Once collected and prior to transport in your vehicle to an FWC office, the secured collection bags should be placed into a second secure, locked transport container labeled “Prohibited Reptiles.” Collected iguanas should be transported to the FWC immediately to limit the likelihood of the iguanas regaining their ability to move freely.
Once transport has begun, collection bags or sacks must remain closed or sealed until they are transferred to FWC staff. This is to both keep the iguanas from escaping into a new location and to prevent the iguanas from getting loose in your vehicle if they start to recover from torpor.
Invasive green iguanas are not protected in Florida except by state anti-cruelty laws, and members of the public may humanely kill green iguanas year-round on their property or with landowner permission. EO 26-03 provides people wishing to remove green iguanas from their property – but unable to safely or humanely kill iguanas themselves – the opportunity to remove them during this unusual, sustained cold weather event and bring them to the FWC. Outside of the conditions under this executive order, people needing assistance with safe and humane removal of iguanas can contact a professional wildlife control operator. Landowners wanting to discourage iguanas from frequenting their property can find more information at MyFWC.com/Nonnatives.
More than 600 nonnative fish and wildlife species have been reported in Florida. Eighty percent of these have been introduced via the live animal trade, with 139 species established in Florida, meaning they are reproducing in the wild. Invasive species management is a high priority for the FWC because these animals negatively impact native fish and wildlife, cause damage that is costly to repair, and can pose a threat to human health and safety.
To view Executive Order 26-03 visit MyFWC.com/About, and click on “Office of the Executive Director.”
Invasive green iguanas are not protected in Florida except by state anti-cruelty laws, and members of the public may humanely kill green iguanas year-round on their property or with landowner permission. EO 26-03 provides people wishing to remove green iguanas from their property – but unable to safely or humanely kill iguanas themselves – the opportunity to remove them during this unusual, sustained cold weather event and bring them to the FWC. Outside of the conditions under this executive order, people needing assistance with safe and humane removal of iguanas can contact a professional wildlife control operator. Landowners wanting to discourage iguanas from frequenting their property can find more information at MyFWC.com/Nonnatives.
More than 600 nonnative fish and wildlife species have been reported in Florida. Eighty percent of these have been introduced via the live animal trade, with 139 species established in Florida, meaning they are reproducing in the wild. Invasive species management is a high priority for the FWC because these animals negatively impact native fish and wildlife, cause damage that is costly to repair, and can pose a threat to human health and safety.
To view Executive Order 26-03 visit MyFWC.com/About, and click on “Office of the Executive Director.”
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