NORTH PORT SUN (Florida) 08 November 05 Iguana recommendation likely within month (Gavin Off)
Englewood: A Florida Gulf Coast University professor will have a recommendation for Lee County commissioners later this month on how to deal with Boca Grande's invasive iguanas.
Jerry Jackson, with the help of Lee County animal services workers, has caught, euthanized and studied some 50 iguanas in recent months.
He's also been consulting with California biologists who specialize in clearing islands of invasive species.
Jackson said the report has not been finalized and it is still unclear how officials will attack the iguana problem.
"There's no breakthroughs or anything," Jackson said.
Jackson is seeking to identify the spiny-tailed iguana's eating and reproductive tendencies and is seeking find out if they're carriers of diseases or parasites.
He is also hoping to devise a strategy to eradicate or at least control the reptile's island population, which could reach into the thousands.
His recent studies, Jackson said, has shown the iguanas to be particularly harmful to sand dunes, gopher tortoises and native flora.
Jackson said the iguana burrows, which can range from 10 to 20 feet deep, are often found under houses or in the beach dune system, therefore weakening the dunes.
He also said the iguanas are sharing burrows with gopher tortoises and are likely eating their eggs.
"I suspect they eat anything they can catch," Jackson said.
According to Jackson, the iguanas, natives of Mexico, eat everything from insects and mice to native plants and bird eggs.
The iguana's diet includes plant seeds, including the seeds of the non-native Brazilian pepper trees. Jackson said the process of the iguanas eating, digesting and discarding the pepper tree seeds has helped the plant spread.
"It's one invasive species helping another," he said.
And since the iguanas are not native to the island, they have few enemies. Jackson said an iguana's lifespan probably runs seven to 10 years, allowing the reptiles to grow to several feet long.
But there is a bright side.
Jackson said he has found catching the animals to be quite easy. He uses a monofilament line with a noose to trap the animals entering or exiting their burrow.
He said he'll continue to study the iguanas within the coming months, even though his contract with Lee County has expired.
Iguana recommendation likely within month