Bill aims to curb green iguanas in Florida

TALLAHASSEE -- On a cold January day where Floridians pondered whether the state’s invasive and pervasive green iguanas would freeze and fall from the sky, a bill was introduced that aims to stop the “chicken of the trees” from proliferating.

The bill, which got its first hearing Tuesday, adds green iguanas to the list of species that cannot be kept as pets or sold in pet shops across the state.

In addition to green iguanas, the bill also applies to black and white tegus, another nonnative lizard variety largely found in Miami-Dade and Hillsborough counties.

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The Senate Environment and Natural Resources committee voted 4-0 on the bill, which still has two committee stops before it goes to a floor vote.

Bill sponsor Sen. Gary Farmer, a Lighthouse Point Democrat, said the bill will hopefully help solve what he calls the “iguana problem” he sees in his hometown, which is largely built near canals. He pointed out billboards and trucks he sees in his community that advertise iguana removal.

“We have an iguana problem in the state of Florida,” Farmer said. “If we want to eradicate them, we shouldn’t be allowing their commercial sale.”

The House version, filed by Sunrise Democrat Dan Daley, has not yet been heard.