Recently a disturbing and heartbreaking thing is going on in my town?

Question

I live in a rather large town in South Florida named Pompano Beach. We have quite a few wild Iguanas that reside here and they really don't bother anyone except for a little foliage and the occasional poo in the pools which I guess enrages some. I think that they are absolutely beautiful and have 2 pet Iguanas myself. Recently in a empty field near a canal and drainage ditch we're alot resided, maybe 100 of them. The city came in and made a sweep and hauled them off and killed them. Since they are not native to Florida it is supposedly okay. Question is, if I contacted PETA on this mass murdering of the Green Iguanas, which I'm sure is going on all over this town and probably county of Broward for all I know, would they be interested in helping or does this not qualify? I don't know what else to do. Please any advice might help.

The city is the responsible party for this, as they now consider them a nuisance animal.

I thought they would relocate them to, but i found out that they consider that to be animal cruelty. I figured out to the Everglades or out by the Sawgrass, but no apparently that is a no no. Doesn't make much sense.

I spoke to animal control about it, the culprits. I didn't know why they were disappearing, like a dumb a-s-s I was asking is it the drought, and that's when they said people are sick of them and they had to start cast netting them, then I did research through the dept of hunting and game and found out they have to euthanize rather than relocate. I was horrified.
Corner of S. Cypress and Atlantic for those who are familiar with the area.

Answer 1

That's just unhuman to kill some poor iguans just because they weren't born there , they could of bought 5acres of property and let them live there.I don;t think they eat animals i think they eat veggies and fruits and flies...just like where i live my neighbor is a preacher and the feral cats he traps and kills them,i cussed him out and said they are gods creatures to.just because they were dropped off unwanted don;t mean they have to die,,,I feed 3 of the ferals as they have all come up with broken legs from his traps i imagane...If i feed them then they won;t go in his tuna baited traps,,live and let live that's my motto,., good luck and see what pets can do about this , keep us informed at yahoo,.,

Answer 2

I also live in Broward county, in Oakland Park, we have iguanas here by the canal, from what I've read in Sun Sentinel months ago, if I remember correctly, they can't kill or really disturb non native animals, they can move them if they become a nuisance, I don't think the city or county kills them, but due to many people complaining, I think they move them to where they can roam more freely. Don't forget that wild Iguanas carry salmonella and bite. If you're looking for help, I don't know how involved PETA would get, but you can try WWF, world wildlife foundation, check online for organizations that help exotic animals. By the way, I don't mind having iguanas running around here, there were a whole bunch by Big Louies Pizza on Oakland Park & Andrews ave on the Wilton Manors side. The pizza people didn't seem to mind them either. There's like an empty lot behind with a bunch of grass by the canal where they can hide and breed and just live their life.

Answer 3

I know on the surface this seems very cruel. But......any time an introduced species moves into a new environment the native species struggle to survive. Sometimes they don't manage. A native species that is already on the brink of extinction would be the first to go. I suggest you do a bit of research into the effects of introduced species and then decided if you really want to try and take action. Here in Australia we have a terrible problem with rabbits and foxes introduced here many many years ago. The rabbits eat the food that is meant for natives such as kangaroos, wombats, etc... and the foxes just simply eat the natives or infect them with mange. I don't hate rabbits or foxes. They are both beautiful animals....when they live where they are meant to live....but here...where they are causing such a strain on an ecosystem already stuggling to cope with drought they have no place, and I whole heartedly support any humane measures used to erradicate them.

Answer 4

I live just north of Pompano and we too have become over-run with Iguanas. They eat all the plants and flowers here, they poop all over the place, and there are more and more of them each month. According to my research, in the state of Florida, it's totally legal to kill them as long as it's done in a humain way. It is also legal to capture them, but it is illegal to then release them back into the wild. The sooner we all can get rid of them, the less will have to die.

Answer 5

Write the Mayor, your State and Federal Senators and Representatives. Contact Peta sure. What a waste of money also- I am sure the schools down there could use whatever they spent on destroying those animals.
Here they killed coyotes and seagulls- there is always an uproar but they still go ahead and do it.

Answer 6

I'm sure if they had just captured them, zoos would have taken them, families might have adopted them... Iguanas are the sweetest lizards ever. If they didn't get so darn big I would like to have one. Anyway, I will stop rambling long enough to say that I'm sure PETA would loooove to hear about the iguana massacre. You really should alert them.

Answer 7

Have you ever thought about the bigger picture?

If a non-native animals starts to multiply, and have no natural preditors (because they are non-native), they grow to the point that will kill off other native animals and plants.

They have devastating effect on echo-system.

It was a result of someone's carelessness that started the spawning of non-native animals. Now the officials have to take care of it to prevent even larger disaster.

Would you rather see native animals and eco systems destroyed??

Go-ahead and voice your concerns. You have that right. But, don't let your emotions dictate your actions. Think about not only the iguanas but all the animals that share the eco-system.

Answer 8

First of all, people shouldn't kill innocent iguanas. You should contact PETA right away. I am an animal rights activist myself. So i will try to do anything i can to help solve this.

Answer 9

People say horrible things about PETA but its all bias. I hate when folks read 'rebel web-sites' and make rash decisions and don't know the facts.

I have contacted PETA twice for animal cruelty cases. They got back to me BOTH TIMES and helped. If they can find facts to back up your report they will help.

Good luck!

Answer 10

The Iguanas didn't know it was "wrong" to be there. They shouldn't have killed the Iguanas in my opinion.