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How did iguanas become an invasive species in Florida?

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Green iguanas are not protected in Florida except by anti-cruelty laws and can be removed from private property year-round with landowner permission. ... Escaped or released pets remain a primary source of introduced species in Florida, although it is illegal to introduce nonnative species into the state. read more

Since the weather in Florida is favorable, especially southern Florida where winter freezes are very rare, they have been able to survive and thrive. Various other species of lizard, such as the Cuban or Knight Anole, have made similar migrations throughout the Caribbean and Florida. read more

Green iguanas were first reported in Florida in the 1960s in Hialeah, Coral Gables and Key Biscayne along Miami-Dade County’s southeastern coast. Green iguana populations now stretch along the Atlantic Coast in Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach Counties and along the Gulf Coast in Collier and Lee Counties. read more

Florida suffers from overdevelopment, and exotic invasion is one of the serious long-term consequences. The national media has begun to spotlight exotic pets on the loose, especially those species that have become invasive and destructive. There are more of these animals now, and they are more menacing. read more

Although primarily herbivores, researchers found the remains of tree snails in the stomachs of green iguanas in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, suggesting that iguanas could present a threat to native and endangered species of tree snails. read more

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