Can we reduce the iguana population in Florida by destroying their nests?
Wild iguanas dig deep burrows for nesting in sand and soil. At the bottom of these burrows the female will create a small cavern in which she can lay her eggs. Tunnels may connect a number of separate burrows so that more than one entrance will lead to the same nesting cavern. Such shared caverns are usually deeper in the ground and better protected than a nest used by a single female. Female iguanas back out of their nest after their eggs are laid. Then they cover the nest with sand or dirt. Different iguanas will use a single nest sequentially. An iguana will return to a nest site season after season. Sometimes the females will fight over ownership of a nest site. Unless such competition is occurring, however, female iguanas do not stay by their nests to guard their eggs. If you have an unguarded nest on your property, you can certainly help to reduce the local iguana population by removing the eggs. Be sure to freeze them in order to halt development, then discard or bury. Do not us
