On the Street

Julia Byrne, Resident
"Other than being pets, I haven’t really paid attention. I know that people let them go, and that causes the problem. I disagree with selling iguanas as pets, because they’re non-native and many people are not responsible with them. Then they wind up out the door. It’s not the iguanas’ faults. I feel bad for them, but I don’t mind if they find a humane way of collecting them. I read that some people on Sanibel Island take it on themselves to get rid of them, and not humanely."

Roger Mengelkoch, Resident
"I live on Sheffield, and every other day I see them running across the road. They haven’t really affected us, but I’ve heard they’re a problem. I don’t know what they’re eating. Maybe they’ll eat our pets’ food. They aren’t native to the area, so they should be taken care of. They can trap them. I’ve actually seen a panther that lives near us with an iguana in its mouth. Everyone along our street has fruit trees, so that’s probably why they cross the street all the time."

Richard Reisinger, Resident
"Well, I prefer my iguanas blackened or fried. (Laughs). I absolutely agree with addressing the problem. Any non-native species really has to be humanely wiped out if possible just because of the threat, obviously, of addition of species. I know it’s been a situation in Boca Grande, and it’s been going on as long as I can remember. I’m rather surprised that there hasn’t been a concerted effort here before, but at least it’s starting now. I believe they’re a major threat to Loggerhead sea turtles in Boca, eating the eggs they lay on the beach. People haven’t taken the python thing seriously either, but it’s coming."