Florida cold stunned iguanas killed, given to luxury leathers company
The collection of nearly 5,200 cold-stunned invasive iguanas in South Florida was a boon for state wildlife officials and the native ecosystem.
But then came the unique challenge of humanely euthanizing, or otherwise disposing of the cold-stunned iguanas, which at an average weight in the wild of between 2 and 17 pounds, could mean several tons of dead reptile.
An unknown number of iguanas collected during the blistering cold snap of Feb. 1 and 2 were transferred to licensed handlers for care and for live animal sales outside of the state — something a state spokeswoman said they tried to do with as many animals as possible.
How do you humanely kill an iguana?
For those that remained, dispatching iguanas in a compassionate way is a multi-step endeavor, which as described by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, would make most people cringe.
It involves causing the animal to immediately lose consciousness, and then ensuring the invasive—yet not purposefully malicious—animal’s brain is destroyed. That method is done by inserting a small rod into the top of its head and scrambling the contents or using a “multi-directional movement ensuring destruction of the entire brain.”
The procedure could be laborious considering the quantity of iguanas collected.
Still, FWC Division of Habitat and Species Conservation spokeswoman Lisa Thompson said each iguana was treated with TLC.
“All iguanas that were humanely killed were handled individually, with trained staff using a two-step process to ensure the iguanas were killed in a humane manner,” Thompson said. “The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends a two-step process to prevent suffering and destroy the brain completely.”
What did they do with all the dead cold-stunned iguanas in Florida?
After a humane death, and “in order to avoid wanton waste,” Thompson said the animals were provided to an exotic leathers company.
She didn’t specify the company, but FWC announced a partnership last year with Inversa Leathers. The Miami-based firm is working with Burmese python hunters who were formerly FWC contractors to collect the invasive snakes and turn their skins into high-fashion boots, loafers, belts, wallets, jackets, dresses, skirts and purses.
Gov. Ron Desantis said in an October press conference that the partnership has reduced the administrative burden on FWC by 89% while increasing python removal and hunters salaries.
Inversa also specializes in turning iguana skin into luxury accessories and apparel. According to its website the iguana products are available in a variety of colors and finishes.
Iguanas are known to damage the integrity of vital flood control canals and levees in South Florida with their burrows. They have also been responsible for power outages and are notorious for munching on landscaping and other plants.
Inversa says each iguana hide “restores up to 80 feet of earth that supports seawalls and other critical foundations,” prevents 20 power outages a year, and saves $32,000 of “single-season losses incurred by farmers.”
“Inversa is honored to be able to help FWC and the State of Florida with invasive species issues,” the company said in a statement when asked about the state’s recent iguana harvest. “Our company partners with fashion companies to bring ethical exotics made from invasive species to the luxury fashion market.”
Inversa declined to say how many, if any, iguanas it received from FWC.
Thompson said information on how many iguanas were euthanized versus rehomed wasn’t available as of Feb. 5.
Florida allowed people to bring cold-stunned iguanas to drop-off locations during Arctic blast
FWC announced the two-day iguana collection program on Jan. 30 ahead of an Arctic cold front that dropped temperatures into the 30s across South Florida and lingered for days. Cold-blooded iguanas go into a torpor, or an immobilized state, when temperatures hit between 40 and 50 degrees, so FWC saw this as an opportunity to allow people to safely collect the animals and bring them to drop off sites.
Normally, a license is required to transport live invasive animals.
Wildlife experts called the novel project a success.
“Otherwise, there’s the potential that 5,200 iguanas would have been left to rot, and so simply from that standpoint, yes, I do think taking advantage of cold snaps is a way to remove a lot of iguanas,” said University of Florida wildlife ecology professor Frank Mazzotti.
Male iguanas can reach sexual maturity in as little as 16 months and females in 24 months, according to UF. Females can lay between 10 and 70 eggs in burrows they dig up to 3 feet deep. Hatchlings typically appear during the summer.In the absence of predators—dogs, alligators, humans—or other fatal factors, green iguanas can live up to 20 years with males growing as long as 6 feet.While iguanas are mostly herbivores who feast on flowers, leaves, ornamental plants and fruits, they will also eat tree snails and adults have been known to eat small animals and bird eggs.
Thomas Reinert, FWC regional director for the southern region of the state, said they also eat a plant called gray nickerbean, which is the host plant for the federally endangered Miami blue butterfly.
“They have an impact on our endangered and threatened species,” Reinert said.
Recent sightings have shown iguanas on tree islands deep in the revered Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.
A 2007 study published by researchers at UF, the water management district and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission noted that from the 1960s to the 1980s, iguanas were admired by South Florida residents. They roamed unmolested on peoples’ properties and were even fed like stray cats.
Beginning in the 1990s, the iguana population and complaints about them skyrocketed.
“Additional homeowners experienced the dubious thrill of having the reptilian version of a sheep devouring their landscape,” the study said.
Thompson said iguanas are not protected in Florida except by anti-cruelty laws that require they be killed in the same humane manner the state describes.
Or, you can call a trapper.
Kimberly Miller is a journalist for the USA TODAY NETWORK FLORIDA. She covers weather, the environment and critters as the Embracing Florida reporter. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at
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