Tallahassee, Florida – February 4, 2026 – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced today during its February Commission meeting in Tallahassee that 5,195 invasive green iguanas were successfully removed from Florida’s ecosystems under Executive Order 26-03.
The executive order, which has now closed, temporarily allowed members of the public to collect and transport live, cold-stunned green iguanas from the wild without a permit. Drop-offs were accepted at select FWC offices on February 1–2 amid extended cold temperatures in South Florida that left many iguanas immobilized.
FWC Executive Director Roger Young stated: “The special regulations under EO 26-03 provided a unique opportunity for members of the public to remove cold-stunned green iguanas from their property during the recent unusual cold weather and bring them to the FWC, no permit required. As an invasive species, green iguanas have negative impacts on Florida’s environment and economy. The removal of over 5,000 of these nonnative lizards in such a short time span was only possible thanks to the coordinated efforts of many staff members in multiple FWC divisions and offices, our partners, and of course the many residents that took the time to collect and turn in cold-stunned iguanas from their properties.”
Breakdown of collections by location:
- Sunrise drop-off location: 3,882 iguanas
- Tequesta location: 1,075 iguanas
- Marathon drop-off site: 215 iguanas
- Fort Myers location: 23 iguanas
FWC staff coordinated with authorized permit holders to transfer live iguanas for potential sale outside the state where permitted. Any iguanas that could not be transferred were humanely euthanized by trained staff.
Green iguanas are classified as a Prohibited species in Florida due to their negative effects on native wildlife and the economy; possession requires a permit outside of this temporary measure.
The FWC emphasized that green iguanas are not protected in Florida except under state anti-cruelty laws. Residents may humanely kill them year-round on their own property or with landowner permission. For assistance with safe removal, contact a professional wildlife control operator. Tips to discourage iguanas from properties are available at MyFWC.com/Nonnatives.
The agency cautioned the public: Never bring a cold-stunned iguana indoors to warm it up, as they can recover quickly and become defensive with whipping tails, sharp teeth, and claws.
Florida has more than 600 reported nonnative fish and wildlife species, with 80% introduced via the live animal trade and 139 established (reproducing) in the wild. Invasive species management remains a high priority for the FWC due to impacts on native species, costly damage, and potential threats to human health and safety.
The FWC is no longer accepting live green iguanas from the public.
SOURCE: THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
