FLORIDA - Florida officials have approved new rules allowing commercial trapping and the legal sale of live iguanas outside the state.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted on May 21st to amend state regulations, giving licensed individuals permission to catch green iguanas from known population zones.
Those captured can now be sold to approved buyers based outside Florida.
The change is intended to support statewide removal efforts while creating an outlet for legal sales that may help limit the species’ expansion.
Green iguanas, originally from Central and South America, have spread rapidly throughout Florida due to both the exotic pet trade and a favorable climate.
Their burrowing often weakens infrastructure, including seawalls and sidewalks, and they pose a threat to native plants and smaller wildlife.
Additional rule changes clarify how juveniles of both green iguanas and tegus must be caged, define standards for the legal sale of live specimens, and outline how enforcement officers can place seized prohibited species with qualifying facilities, even those based in residential locations.
While the new measures are intended to reduce environmental damage, some experts warn that without proper oversight, the rules could lead to increased trapping activity that may be difficult to monitor.
State officials are encouraging residents to learn more and offer feedback on these updates by visiting the agency’s official website.
The hope is that collaboration between the public and regulators will support ongoing efforts to protect Florida’s ecosystem.