Would you swerve for an iguana crossing the road?
Seen more iguana guts on the road than usual?
You’re not alone.
It’s the “peak” season for roadkill, says Steve Kavashansky, owner of Iguana Busters in West Palm Beach.
“Mating season was October and November, so the babies are hatching now, and the little youngins are running around,” he said. “They’re very active.”
So why does the iguana cross the road? And possibly get caught under the tires?
“There could be a body of water it wants to get to,” the reptile expert said. “They’re also attracted to food, like mango trees.”
Iguanas are not native to Florida and are considered an invasive species because they can harm native wildlife. They’re also a moving target.
“They are smarter than you think,” Kavashansky said. “They know they’re being hunted, and they’re on the run.”
If you run over one on the road, there’s not much you can do except put it in your rear-view mirror.
“Nature is going to take care of it,” said the professional trapper, who gets about 15 to 20 calls a day for live iguana removals. “Other animals are going to scavenge it, such as turkey vultures, or raccoons will often eat the carcass.”
Another reason why iguanas venture out into busy traffic is the heat of the asphalt, says Gene Parker, owner of Hunting Iguanas Florida in Fort Lauderdale.
“It’s simple,” he said. of the cold-blooded critters. “They want to warm up.”
READ MORE: How to get rid of iguanas in your South Florida neighborhood
READ MORE: Woman finds an iguana in the toilet in her home in Florida
This story was originally published July 8, 2022 at 5:56 PM.
