SUN HERALD (Charlotte, Florida) 19 July 06 Iguanas? You're on your own - Island authority defers decision on eradication program for the time being (Rachel Alexander)
Englewood: After spending two hours batting around the question of what to do about Gasparilla Island's iguana infestation Tuesday, a local board voted: Every man for himself, at least for now.
The Gasparilla Special Improvement Unit Board met with Lee County officials Tuesday afternoon to resolve the increasing over-population of black spiny-tailed iguanas.
But before any final decision was made, Libby Walker of Lee County Public Resources told the board and nearly two dozen Boca Grande residents that Lee County commissioners probably would want another study before establishing a budget assessment.
That left some residents befuddled.
"At the rate they multiply, by the time the study is completed, they'll have to do another study to determine at what rate they've multiplied," said resident Judy Kimmel.
Board member Beverly Furtado noted a $16,000 study had already been done by Lee County.
And she said Dr. Jerry Jackson, a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, already gave citizens advice on how to get rid of the pesky lizards.
Jackson told citizens a female iguana can lay 50-80 eggs at one time. They can have two or three "clutches" in 60 days, Furtado said.
Several trappers at the meeting were anxious to get on with the public trapping job.
But the board opted not to proceed immediately on an eradication campaign. Instead, they handed out a draft brochure about iguanas, their danger and how residents can control them. The information pamphlets created by the county will be mailed to residents and made available in the community soon.
Dale Bowe, an island resident and co-owner of the newly formed business Iguana Busters, said there was some confusion about a county ordinance that appeared to forbid killing the vegetarian creatures.
"They love mangoes," Bowe said.
"And they like grapes and strawberries," said Chris Harlow, owner of Chris Harlow Wildlife Removal in Cape Coral.
Harlow said he's been removing Nile monitor lizards from the Cape Coral area for some time. He has an arrangement with the county to trap them and bring the live animals to the county's wildlife services for euthanizing.
Harlow said that arrangement was begun because that type of lizard is very aggressive.
But Bowe said the black spiny-tailed iguanas are also very aggressive, even though they're not carnivorous. He said if cornered, they will attack.
Bowe said the county attorney had told him the ordinance in question only refers to county property, not private property.
The ordinance may be modified at an Aug. 22 Lee County Commission meeting.
After that, Bowe said, he should be able to answer the question of how the eradication can be done.
Iguanas? You're on your own