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If you think Florida's craziest residents are only found in South Beach, think twice.
In the sun-drenched suburbs of Palmetto Bay, a Miami homeowner recently discovered she was inadvertently hosting a reptile version of the baby shower, with 98 uninvited guests.
Eventually, she gathered experts on humanitarian iguana control, and what they found was excellent even by Florida standards.
“We deleted 98 eggs,” Michael Ronquillo, owner of Humane Iguana Control, told Fox News Digital. “Three female iguanas have been nested in caves, all connected to each other, and each has their own clutch.”
Iguana removed from Miami kitchen cabinets after 'storm into the house'
In what is called “record” in human iguana control, 98 eggs were found this week and removed from the Miami women's yard. (Control by humane iguana)
The discovery was made after several checks and trap settings and became a discovery that might be a local record.
“This is the most eggs we have taken out from one website,” Langquelo said. “We can't find another case because that case was withdrawn at once.”
This may sound dramatic to anyone outside of the sun. But for South Floridians, it’s a day to fight invasive wildlife.
“Iguanas are more than just a trouble,” Langquelo said. “They pose health risks, cause landscape damage, and dig caves that can damage infrastructure.”
In one notorious example, the West Palm Beach iguana-related digging incident caused $1.8 million in damage.
“We've seen them digging under the streets, sidewalks and sea walls,” he added. “If they dig in your backyard until the ground collapses below, you probably don't know.”
View: Iguana moves away from Florida's fireplace: “End anywhere”
Iguana can whip its tail up to 30 mph and have razor-sharp teeth and claws instead of causing environmental damage in South Florida. (Control by humane iguana)
In addition to property issues, there are also hygiene issues.
“They defecate in the pool, in the school, in the playground. It's a health hazard,” Langquelo said. “We got a call from the school where the kids were playing under the trees, and the iguanas were there… to the bathroom. Continuously going to the bathroom.”
Iguanas put down many eggs not only wild, but also very efficient.
“The hatching rate of iguana eggs is 93%,” Langquelo said. “If the customer doesn’t call us, the entire community will have a serious problem in just a few months.”
What made this yard an iguana maternity ward? Main real estate.
“They will test a bunch of spots,” he explained. “If the ground is too hard or too hot, they will keep moving forward. But the place – soft soil, some shade, close to the water – is perfect. So they are all locked on it.”
As a homeowner spotting an iguana on site, something you don’t do is more important in this case.
“The worst thing people can do is cover up the loophole,” Langquelo said. “We tell our customers to mark caves, use some irrigation flag or something visible, and call professionals. When the holes are covered, it compacts the soil, making it harder for us to dig out the right path and remove the eggs.”
Ronquillo's team used cameras and hand-digs to track iguana tunnels.
“It’s not just digging a hole and pulling something out,” he said. “You have to understand how they move and build a cave.”
The breeding season usually ranges from February to May, although Ronquillo warns that surprises are not uncommon.
“We see baby iguanas in July, August, and even September,” he said. “So, while it’s more common in spring, it can technically happen year-round.”
Iguanas are not native to Florida, they are invasive, and their presence dates back to the 1960s.
Humane Iguana Control is a South Florida professionally licensed iguana removal service that specializes in removing invasive reptiles from private properties. (Control by humane iguana)
“Iguanas initially arrived through pet trade markets and cargo ships,” Langquelo said. “They would float on the wood after the hurricane or be released by owners who don't care about them.”
Florida's warm climate, abundant food sources and lack of natural predators bring ideal conditions for them to thrive and reproduce.
“They ate local bird eggs, destroyed landscaping and dug caves, damaged roads, sidewalks and even dams,” Longquelo explained. Their influence was so severe that Florida nuisanced them publicly and encouraged humanitarian evacuation efforts.
If you find excavation, don't remove the shovel or worse.
“Don't try to remove it yourself, and never put poison in the hole,” Langquelo said. “Just mark it and call a licensed demolition company.”
These reptiles also come with built-in defense mechanisms, so don't try it at home.
“Their claws and teeth are very sharp and their tails can be whipped up to an hour,” Longquelo explained. “If you have no experience, you may end up in the emergency room. We have clients trying to catch a person and end up being seriously injured.”
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The Miami homeowner made a call and stopped nearly 100 invasive reptiles from joining the neighborhood.
“This client helped stop a whole new intrusion,” Langquelo said. “If more people act quickly, we can really make a difference.”
Ronquillo's final note: More than just a backyard.
“If everyone does their best, we can protect our environment and our community. Just like this customer. It really makes a difference,” he said.
