Florida Iguana Population Map 2025: Which Counties Have the Worst Infestations?

Not all Florida counties face equal iguana pressure. While South Florida battles massive established populations, other regions are just beginning to see these invasive reptiles arrive. Understanding your county's iguana risk level helps you prepare, prevent, and respond appropriately.

This comprehensive guide breaks down Florida's iguana situation county by county, helping you understand your local risk and connect with nearby removal professionals.

Interactive Risk Assessment Map

Understanding the Risk Levels

We've classified Florida's 67 counties into five risk categories based on:

• Established breeding population density
• Climate suitability
• Reported removal requests
• Professional provider activity
• County-level environmental factors

Risk Categories:

🔴 EXTREME RISK - Dense established populations, year-round breeding, severe property damage common 🟠 HIGH RISK - Large populations, rapid growth, professional removal recommended 🟡 MEDIUM RISK - Growing populations, seasonal activity, monitoring advised 🟢 LOW RISK - Isolated sightings, potential for establishment ⚪ MINIMAL RISK - Rare sightings, climate less suitable

South Florida: The Epicenter

Miami-Dade County 🔴 EXTREME RISK

Population Density: Highest in Florida (estimated 100,000+ iguanas)

Hotspot Cities:

• Miami (especially waterfront neighborhoods)
• Coral Gables (canals and tree-lined streets)
• Homestead (agricultural areas)
• Key Biscayne (coastal properties)
• Pinecrest (residential communities)
• Kendall (suburban sprawl)

Why It's So Bad:

• Patient zero for Florida's iguana invasion
• Ideal year-round climate
• Extensive canal systems (perfect habitat)
• Decades of unchecked breeding
• High-value landscaping (abundant food)

Average Removal Costs: $200-500 per visit

Emergency Service: 24/7 availability throughout county

Property Impact:

• Seawall collapse epidemic (waterfront properties)
• Landscape damage nearly universal
• AC unit nesting extremely common
• Pool contamination ongoing issue

Find Miami-Dade County iguana removal providers →

---

Broward County 🔴 EXTREME RISK

Population Density: Second highest (estimated 75,000+ iguanas)

Hotspot Cities:

• Fort Lauderdale (canal neighborhoods, downtown)
• Hollywood (beach areas, Intracoastal)
• Pompano Beach (waterfront properties)
• Davie (ranch and farm areas)
• Plantation (residential communities)
• Weston (golf course communities)

Why It's Severe:

• Extensive Intracoastal Waterway system
• Dense canal network (perfect migration routes)
• Warm microclimate near coast
• High-end landscaping throughout
• Close to Miami-Dade source population

Average Removal Costs: $200-475 per visit

Notable Challenge: Canal-front properties face constant re-invasion

Emergency Service: 24/7 in most areas

Find Broward County iguana removal providers →

---

Palm Beach County 🔴 EXTREME RISK

Population Density: Third highest (estimated 50,000+ iguanas)

Hotspot Cities:

• West Palm Beach (waterfront, urban core)
• Boca Raton (luxury communities, golf courses)
• Delray Beach (coastal properties)
• Wellington (equestrian communities surprisingly affected)
• Boynton Beach (Intracoastal properties)
• Jupiter (northern beachhead)

Why It's Growing:

• Northward expansion from Broward
• Luxury landscaping (hibiscus, orchids, tropicals)
• Golf course boom (perfect iguana habitat)
• Canal connections to southern populations
• Wealthy areas = less tolerance for damage = high demand for removal

Average Removal Costs: $225-500 per visit (highest in state)

Golf Course Impact: 50+ courses report significant iguana problems

Emergency Service: 24/7 in coastal areas, next-day inland

Find Palm Beach County iguana removal providers →

---

Monroe County (Florida Keys) 🔴 EXTREME RISK

Population Density: Very high per capita (estimated 20,000+)

Hotspot Areas:

• Key Largo (dense populations)
• Islamorada (canal properties)
• Marathon (residential communities)
• Big Pine Key (wildlife refuge concerns)
• Key West (urban populations)

Unique Challenges:

• Island ecosystem (nowhere for iguanas to go)
• Endangered species habitat (ecological concern)
• Limited providers (island access)
• Hurricane risk (storm surge compounds burrow damage)
• Saltwater exposure (seawall damage accelerated)

Average Removal Costs: $250-600 (island premium pricing)

Ecological Concern: Competition with native Key Largo woodrat (endangered)

Emergency Service: Limited, mostly next-day

Find Florida Keys iguana removal providers →

Southwest Florida: Rapid Expansion Zone

Collier County 🟠 HIGH RISK

Population Density: High and growing (estimated 25,000+)

Hotspot Cities:

• Naples (luxury waterfront communities)
• Marco Island (canal properties)
• Golden Gate (suburban expansion)
• Immokalee (agricultural areas)

Growth Trajectory: Population doubled in last 5 years

Average Removal Costs: $175-400

Why It's Spreading:

• Coastal migration from Miami-Dade
• Golf course communities (100+ courses)
• Abundant canal systems
• Year-round warm climate
• Luxury landscaping (food sources)

Find Collier County iguana removal providers →

---

Lee County 🟠 HIGH RISK

Population Density: High (estimated 20,000+)

Hotspot Cities:

• Fort Myers (coastal neighborhoods, downtown)
• Cape Coral (extensive canal system - 400+ miles!)
• Sanibel Island (residential properties)
• Estero (growing communities)
• Bonita Springs (waterfront)

Cape Coral Special Note: The most canal-heavy city in America is iguana paradise. Waterfront properties face constant pressure.

Average Removal Costs: $175-425

Emergency Service: Available in Fort Myers and Cape Coral

Find Lee County iguana removal providers →

---

Charlotte County 🟡 MEDIUM RISK

Population Density: Moderate (estimated 8,000+)

Hotspot Areas:

• Punta Gorda (canal properties)
• Port Charlotte (waterfront developments)
• Englewood Beach (coastal areas)

Trend: Northward expansion, populations growing 30-40% annually

Average Removal Costs: $150-350

Find Charlotte County iguana removal providers →

Treasure Coast: Emerging Hotspot

Martin County 🟠 HIGH RISK

Population Density: High and accelerating (estimated 15,000+)

Hotspot Cities:

• Stuart (St. Lucie River properties)
• Jensen Beach (coastal communities)
• Hobe Sound (waterfront estates)
• Palm City (residential)

Concern: Bridge between Palm Beach and northern expansion

Average Removal Costs: $200-425

Find Martin County iguana removal providers →

---

St. Lucie County 🟡 MEDIUM-HIGH RISK

Population Density: Growing (estimated 10,000+)

Hotspot Cities:

• Port St. Lucie (residential communities)
• Fort Pierce (waterfront, urban)
• Hutchinson Island (beach properties)

Trend: 40% annual population growth (fastest in state)

Average Removal Costs: $175-375

Find St. Lucie County iguana removal providers →

---

Indian River County 🟡 MEDIUM RISK

Population Density: Moderate (estimated 5,000+)

Hotspot Areas:

• Vero Beach (coastal properties)
• Sebastian (residential)

Average Removal Costs: $150-325

Central Florida: Isolated Pockets

Orange County 🟢 LOW-MEDIUM RISK

Population Density: Low but growing (estimated 2,000+)

Hotspot Areas:

• Orlando (isolated neighborhoods, often near canals)
• Winter Park (luxury properties with tropical landscaping)
• Dr. Phillips (high-end communities)

Why Still Limited:

• Inland location (slower spread)
• Colder winter nights (occasional freezes)
• Less canal connectivity

Average Removal Costs: $150-300

Trend: Increasing sightings, especially in warmer microclimates

Find Orange County iguana removal providers →

---

Polk County 🟢 LOW RISK

Population Density: Very low (estimated 500+)

Hotspot Areas:

• Lakeland (isolated sightings)
• Winter Haven (canal chain areas)

Why Limited: Inland location, colder winters

Average Removal Costs: $150-275 (when needed)

West Coast: Tampa Bay Region

Hillsborough County 🟢 LOW-MEDIUM RISK

Population Density: Low to moderate (estimated 3,000+)

Hotspot Cities:

• Tampa (waterfront neighborhoods, especially South Tampa)
• Brandon (suburban growth areas)
• Plant City (isolated reports)

Why Not Worse:

• Winter cold snaps keep population in check
• Less canal connectivity to South Florida
• Some freeze events

Average Removal Costs: $150-325

Trend: Slow but steady increase in sightings

Find Hillsborough County iguana removal providers →

---

Pinellas County 🟢 LOW RISK

Population Density: Low (estimated 1,500+)

Hotspot Areas:

• St. Petersburg (isolated sightings, waterfront)
• Clearwater (beach communities)

Why Limited:

• Cooler Gulf waters
• Occasional winter freezes
• Urban development (less suitable habitat)

Average Removal Costs: $150-300

Seasonal Variations by Region

Winter (December - February)

South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Monroe):

• Iguanas remain active year-round
• "Falling iguana" phenomenon during rare cold snaps (<50°F)
• Slower metabolism = less feeding damage
• Opportunity for easier capture when stunned by cold

Central/North Florida:

• Significant population reduction from cold exposure
• Iguanas seek warmth (AC units, attics)
• Temporary relief from outdoor activity

Spring (March - May)

All affected regions:

• Breeding season begins (March)
• Males become highly territorial and aggressive
• Increased human-iguana conflicts
• Peak time for landscape damage (new plant growth)

Summer (June - August)

All regions:

• Nesting season (May-July)
• Burrow activity intensifies
• Eggs hatch (late summer)
• Population boom begins
• High activity despite heat

Fall (September - November)

All regions:

• Juveniles from summer hatch dispersing
• Adults preparing for potential cold
• Increased feeding (building fat reserves)
• Good time for population control before breeding

Climate Change Impact on Distribution

Current Trends

Warming winters:

• Northern range expansion accelerating
• Counties like Brevard, Volusia seeing establishment
• Freeze events becoming rarer

Sea level rise:

• Coastal populations adapting
• Increased seawall burrowing (seeking high ground)
• Saltwater intrusion creating new challenges

Future Predictions (2025-2035)

High Confidence:

• Brevard County moves to HIGH RISK (Space Coast explosion)
• Volusia County establishes dense populations
• Polk County sees significant increase
• Hillsborough becomes MEDIUM-HIGH RISK

Medium Confidence:

• Alachua County (Gainesville) sees first breeding populations
• Hernando/Citrus counties establish populations
• Coastal Panhandle isolated sightings increase

Low Confidence:

• Jacksonville area sees occasional breeding
• Northern counties remain mostly clear due to freezes

Expected Northern Limit

Current: Northern Palm Beach County (inland), St. Lucie County (coastal)

2030 Projection: Brevard County (inland), Flagler County (coastal)

Climate-dependent: If winters continue warming, breeding populations could establish as far north as Jacksonville by 2040.

How to Use This Map

For Homeowners

1. Find your county's risk level above

2. Assess your property:

   • Do you have features iguanas love? (canals, tropical plants, docks)
   • Have you seen iguanas nearby?
   • Is your neighborhood on a canal or waterway?

3. Take action based on risk:

   • EXTREME/HIGH: Implement prevention now, monitor monthly
   • MEDIUM: Learn prevention, monitor quarterly
   • LOW: Be aware, know what to look for

4. Find local providers: Use county-specific links above

For HOA Boards

1. Determine community risk:

   • County risk level
   • Proximity to water
   • Landscape attractiveness
   • Neighboring community reports

2. Plan accordingly:

   • EXTREME: Need ongoing contract (view our HOA RFP guide)
   • HIGH: Quarterly assessments minimum
   • MEDIUM: Annual assessment, be ready to act
   • LOW: Monitor and educate residents

3. Budget planning:

   • Use average costs by county
   • Plan for escalation as populations grow
   • Consider preventive vs. reactive costs

For Property Buyers/Real Estate

Due diligence by county:

EXTREME RISK counties (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Monroe):

• Inspect seawalls closely (burrow damage = $20K-50K to repair)
• Look for landscape damage (plant loss, burrows)
• Ask about current iguana presence
• Factor $1,500-3,000/year removal into costs
• Check if HOA has iguana management contract

HIGH RISK counties:

• Ask sellers about iguana history
• Inspect waterfront areas
• Budget $800-2,000/year for potential removal

MEDIUM/LOW RISK counties:

• Be aware but not alarmed
• Know what to look for
• Understand costs if they arrive

Connect with Local Providers

Every county link above connects you to licensed, insured iguana removal professionals serving your specific area. Our provider directory includes:

✅ Licensed professionals (learn about licensing requirements) ✅ Insurance verification ($1M+ liability coverage) ✅ Customer reviews and ratings ✅ Emergency availability (where applicable) ✅ Pricing transparency (view typical costs)

Browse all Florida iguana removal providers →

Conclusion

Florida's iguana problem is highly geographic. While South Florida battles entrenched populations, other regions face emerging threats. Understanding your county's risk level helps you:

• Prepare appropriately (prevention for high-risk areas)
• Budget realistically (costs vary by region)
• Respond quickly (early intervention is cheaper)
• Find local help (county-specific providers)

Key Takeaways:

🔴 If you're in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, or Monroe: You need professional help now. These aren't isolated iguanas—they're breeding populations.

🟠 If you're in Collier, Lee, Martin, or St. Lucie: Act before it gets worse. Early prevention saves thousands.

🟡 If you're in medium-risk counties: Monitor closely. You're next if populations continue spreading.

🟢 If you're in low-risk areas: Stay informed. Climate change and northward expansion mean your risk is increasing.

---

Next Steps:

1. Learn about prevention strategies
2. Understand removal methods
3. Get cost estimates
4. Find providers in your county

Your county's iguana population isn't getting smaller on its own. Take action before one becomes one hundred.