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Florida’s executive order to remove invasive green iguanas has worked.
Last week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission allowed residents to transport fallen frozen iguanas to local offices in an effort to reduce the iguana population in the state.
On Jan. 30, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued a new executive order outlining special regulations designed to temporarily allow people to remove live, cold-stunned green iguanas from the wild without a permit and bring them directly to five designated FWC offices in the South and Southwest Regions on Sunday, Feb. 1 and Monday, Feb. 2. Green iguanas are an invasive lizard in Florida that have adverse impacts on Florida’s environment and economy.
Floridians went on to bring in iguanas to local FWC offices by the droves.
Thank you Governor DeSantis for making iguana stacking a fun new frozen Floridian family tradition!! The FWC collection stations are swamped!! pic.twitter.com/xTdIbYGVx0
— Branch Floridian (@JackLinFLL) February 1, 2026
According to local officials, over 5,000 iguanas were turned in to FWC offices for removal.
Today, at its February Commission meeting in Tallahassee, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced that 5,195 invasive green iguanas were removed from Florida’s ecosystems under Executive Order 26-03, thanks to the collaborative efforts of many members of the public, partners, and staff.
In just 48 hours, Floridians turned in 5,195 invasive green iguanas to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a surge of removals driven by an unusual cold snap and a temporary executive order that allowed the public to collect cold-stunned lizards without a… pic.twitter.com/477foMEZyZ
— Heidi Hatch KUTV (@tvheidihatch) February 4, 2026
After capturing the iguanas, FWC allowed permit holders to transport them out of state for sale. Iguanas that could not be transported were euthanized.
FWC staff worked with permit holders authorized to be in possession of live green iguanas to coordinate the transfer of live iguanas to their care, including for sale outside of the state. Green iguanas are a Prohibited species in Florida due to their negative impacts on native wildlife and the economy and cannot be possessed without a permit. Any iguanas turned in to FWC that could not be transferred to permit holders were humanely killed by trained staff.