'Chicken of the trees.' Do I need a license to shoot iguanas in Florida?
You don’t have to wait for iguanas to fall from trees to start collecting them for their meat, if you’re into that.
Florida may have thoroughly organized rules and regulations for hunting most of its animals, like gators, ducks and deer. But when it comes to iguanas, it’s basically a free-for-all. You can even go on a guided iguana hunt.
Here’s what you need to know about hunting and eating iguanas in Florida.
Where can I legally hunt iguanas in Florida?
Iguanas are an invasive species in Florida – meaning they’re not native to the state – and are only protected by anti-cruelty laws. They can be humanely killed on private property year-round with landowner permission, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Do I need a license to shoot iguanas in Florida?
There are 32 FWC-managed public lands in south Florida where you don’t need a hunting license to kill iguanas, since they’re highly invasive to that portion of the state. The public lands where you can kill as many iguanas you’d like are the same areas where residents and hunters are encouraged to kill any pythons they see.
“If you are not capable of safely removing iguanas from your property, please seek assistance from a professional nuisance wildlife trapper,” the FWC’s website says. “A permit is required to possess live captured green iguanas for eradication and control purposes.”
If you want to hunt iguanas for their meat or to just help out with controlling their presence in South Florida but don’t know where to go, you can book a guided iguana hunt.
Captain Experiences is a company that offers guided hunting and fishing trips all over the state. It offers iguana hunting trips in Fort Lauderdale, Panama City, Plantation, Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Cape Coral and Crystal River. Some of those hunts include hunting for invasive geese as well.
“Iguanas are invasive to South Florida and have widely harmed the local natural ecosystem,” a spokesperson for Captain Experiences said. “They feed on burrowing owl eggs, which has decimated their population. So much so that Florida Burrowing Owls have been listed as a threatened species per Florida Fish and Wildlife.”
Some people kill iguanas using pellet guns. A pellet gun can kill an iguana if the lizard isn't particularly big and the pellet hits it in a vital place. But most people prefer to trap and freeze them, since iguanas become paralyzed and die in cold temperatures.
What are the rules for killing iguanas in Florida?
There are only two rules to consider when hunting or killing iguanas:
You must either have permission from the owner of the property where you found the iguana or be on one of the 32 FWC-managed public lands where eliminating iguanas is encouraged.
You must kill the iguana or iguanas humanely.
Here’s the FWC’s requirements for what makes a humane kill
Regardless of the method you use, you must ensure the following two steps are completed to humanely kill a reptile:
Step 1: Your method should result in the animal losing consciousness immediately.
Step 2: You should then destroy the animal's brain by “pithing” which prevents the animal from regaining consciousness. For more information visit the 2020 AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals.
Is iguana meat legal in the U.S.?
Eating iguana meat might sound strange to some. But like gator meat, iguana meat is a delicacy to those who enjoy the high-protein, low-fat meat.
It’s legal to eat iguanas but it’s illegal to import iguanas or iguana meat.
What do you do with a dead iguana?
If you've gone out and killed an iguana without intent to eat it, don't toss the body in a road or waterway. You could be charged with a littering fine.
Tossing a dead iguana in the trash could also cost you, depending on where you live. Some cities' waste management systems allow you to throw it in the trash if it is double-bagged, others require residents to hire a private pickup service to rid of the dead animal. Check what the rules are for your city before you toss the large dead lizard.
Are iguanas good to eat?
Iguana meat is popular in some places throughout Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean and is often called garrobo or pollo de los árboles (chicken of the trees).
Like gator tail, iguana meat is most often compared to chicken. Some prefer it to chicken because it packs more protein.
"People have been eating iguanas since at least 10,000 years ago, when humans reached the New World tropics. It was a readily available, not-too-dangerous food source. It's always been part of the diet," University of Florida professor William Kern told USA TODAY in 2020.
But Iguana removal service Humane Iguana Control says to eat at your own risk.
"We highly advise against consuming these wild reptiles. Iguanas are herbivores and primarily feed on landscaping plants and fruits found around homes and businesses. Unfortunately, the flora in these areas is often treated with pesticides, which can pose significant health risks," Humane Iguana Control's website says.
"Eating wild iguanas can be risky because they may have been exposed to pesticides and diseases. If you want to try iguana dishes, it’s best to look for places where iguanas are raised for people to eat."
What does iguana meat taste like?
TikToker @passtheflamingo, who makes TikToks about the history and culture surrounding food and recipes, made a traditional Honduran dish featuring iguana as the main protein.
"Iguana is pretty gamy," the TikToker said of his iguana en coco dish. "I think it really benefits from the strong seasonings used here. I would describe the meat as kind of like a mixture of chicken and white fish."
TikToker @massimosaquatics said that his first time trying iguana was not as weird as he thought it would be and recommends trying it just for the "fun" of the experience. He said the meat on the fried iguana legs he made in his catch and cook video tasted "Like chicken but a little chewier." He trapped and killed his iguana in what seems to be the most popular way to do it, by catching it on a noose made of fishing wire and putting it in a freezer.
TikTok creator Nick Kratka (@nick_kratka), a south Florida-based TikToker, has 6.1 million followers that watch his "catch and cook" videos. He recently hit a streak of popularity when he knowingly ate a fish he caught that was infected with tapeworms and faked his own death in one of his videos.
"This is definitely the wildest publicity stunt I've ever done," he said at the end of the video, when he revealed he's actually just fine, minus the deworming meds he's had to take.
But between eating tapeworms and faking his own demise, he's found time to make several "catch and cook" iguana recipe videos.
In this video, he makes fried iguana alfredo. The video takes you from catch to cook and he walks you through how to catch, kill and clean your iguana before you fry it up.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: What are the rules for killing iguanas in Florida? There's almost none
