Iguanas
Why Iguanas Are Wrecking Your Seawall — and How to Stop Them
Green iguanas have become one of South Florida's most destructive invasive species, and waterfront homeowners feel it the most. Those reptiles basking on your dock aren't just a nuisance — their burrowing can quietly undermine the seawall and foundation you've invested thousands to maintain.
How Iguanas Damage Your Property
- Seawall collapse: Iguanas dig extensive burrows into the soil behind seawalls. Over time these tunnels erode the backfill, causing the wall to crack, bulge, and eventually fail.
- Foundation and deck damage: The same burrowing destabilizes patios, pool decks, sidewalks, and home foundations.
- Landscaping destruction: Iguanas strip ornamental plants, flowers, and fruit, undoing your landscaping season after season.
- Health hazards: Their droppings accumulate on docks, decks, and pool areas and can carry salmonella — a real risk to children and pets.
A single seawall failure can cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair. Catching an iguana problem early is far cheaper than fixing the damage later.
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Holes and burrow entrances along the seawall, near the water line, or beside the foundation
- Soil erosion, sinkholes, or settling near the seawall cap
- Droppings on docks, decks, and pool patios
- Chewed or stripped landscaping
- Iguanas regularly basking on the seawall, dock, or roof
Why DIY Rarely Works
Iguanas are wary, fast, and excellent climbers and swimmers. Repellent sprays wash off, and scaring them off only sends them next door until they return. Effective control requires understanding their burrows, travel routes, and basking habits — and addressing all three.
What Actually Stops Iguanas
- 1.Assessment: Locate active burrows along the seawall and foundation and map travel routes.
- 2.Humane trapping and removal: Reduce the resident population with targeted, humane methods.
- 3.Burrow remediation: Properly fill and harden burrows so the structure isn't left compromised.
- 4.Deterrents and exclusion: Remove attractants and harden basking and entry areas so iguanas move on and stay gone.
Our iguana control and removal program combines all of these into an ongoing plan, because in South Florida a one-time removal is rarely the end of the story.
Frequently asked questions
- Are green iguanas protected in Florida?
- No. Green iguanas are an invasive species in Florida and are not protected beyond standard humane-treatment expectations. They can be removed from private property year-round, but it should be done humanely and legally — which is where a professional helps.
- How much damage can iguanas really do to a seawall?
- Significant. Their burrows erode the soil behind seawalls, leading to cracking, bulging, and collapse. Repairs can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, so early control is well worth it.
- Can you keep iguanas from coming back?
- Yes — to a large degree. Removing attractants, remediating burrows, and hardening basking and entry points dramatically reduces iguana pressure. Ongoing monitoring keeps new arrivals from re-establishing.
