In Florida’s warm and humid climate, encounters with wildlife are part of everyday life. One such creature making frequent appearances in residential areas is the iguana. While they may look harmless sunbathing on your patio, these reptiles pose real threats to your home, garden, and pool — especially because iguanas can swim, and do so quite well.
Understanding iguanas’ swimming abilities and their behavior is critical for Florida homeowners looking to protect their property. In this article, we’ll explore the question “Can iguanas swim?” and dive into the ecological background, behavioral habits, threats they pose, and how to manage them effectively.
Can Iguanas Swim and Hold Their Breath Underwater?
Yes — iguanas can swim, and they are surprisingly strong swimmers. These reptiles are naturally adapted to aquatic environments. With flattened tails that work like paddles and the ability to hold their breath for up to 30 minutes underwater, iguanas easily navigate bodies of water, including residential pools, canals, and even the ocean.
Their sharp claws allow them to climb pool enclosures and trees, while their swimming ability enables them to move between properties, increasing their range and the likelihood of infestation.
The Marine Iguana (Galápagos Islands): The Ultimate Swimmer
The best-known aquatic iguana is the marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), native to the Galápagos Islands. Unlike Florida’s invasive green iguana, marine iguanas are endemic to the Galápagos and are not found in Florida. However, their unique biology offers insights into iguana swimming behavior.
Adaptations for Swimming
Marine iguanas feed primarily on marine algae, which they scrape off rocks underwater. They dive into cold water, relying on their flattened tails for propulsion and sharp claws to cling to slippery surfaces while foraging.
Due to the Galápagos’ cool marine temperatures, marine iguanas must conserve heat. After dives, they bask in the sun to regulate their body temperature — a behavior also observed in iguanas throughout South America, Central America, and Florida.
Conservation Concerns
Marine iguanas are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN due to threats from climate change, El Niño events, predators, and other factors like habitat destruction. As marine iguanas face increased pressure from warming seas and changing algal growth patterns, they serve as an ecological warning sign of broader environmental shifts affecting all reptiles and marine species.
Florida’s Green Iguanas: A Growing Menace
In Florida, the main concern is the green iguana, an invasive and non-native species that has established large, growing populations across South Florida, including Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
Swimming and Spreading
Though not marine iguanas, green iguanas are excellent swimmers. They can travel through canals, lakes, and pools, often appearing in backyards far from their original location. This swimming ability enables them to expand their range rapidly.
Additionally, younger iguanas and smaller iguanas often swim to evade predators like snakes, cats, dogs, and even humans.
Threats to Your Property
Swimming Pools
Homeowners frequently report finding iguanas submerged in their pool or basking nearby. These animals may:
- Defecate in the water, contaminating it with bacteria, mites, and parasites.
- Damage pool covers and filters.
- Pose a danger if startled, particularly for children or pets.
Iguanas will bite if they feel threatened, and they have razor-sharp teeth. This is why you should never attempt to remove iguanas without professional help.
Landscaping and Gardens
Iguanas feed on fruits, flowers, and vegetables, which makes Florida gardens a prime food source. They dig extensive burrows near seawalls, shorelines, and foundations, which can undermine structures and cause flooding.
Roof and Infrastructure Damage
Iguanas often climb onto roofs and gutters, seeking warm spots to bask. Their waste is acidic and can corrode surfaces. Burrowing near foundations, driveways, or seawalls is especially problematic in coastal areas.
The Bigger Ecological Picture
Iguanas are part of the broader lizard family, closely related to land iguanas, and many reptiles that are cold-blooded and rely on external heat to regulate their well-being. In their native environments, iguanas serve important ecological roles. However, in Florida, they are considered invasive species.
Population Boom
Green iguanas in Florida reproduce rapidly. A single female lays up to 70 eggs per year, and there are few natural predators to keep numbers in check.
Climate Change and Range Expansion
Florida’s warm winters allow iguanas to thrive. As climate change reduces cold snaps that would normally cull populations, their numbers grow. In years with fewer freeze events, many iguanas survive and reproduce.
Charles Darwin and the Iguana Legacy
Interestingly, Charles Darwin first described the Galápagos marine iguana in the 1800s, noting its unusual ability to live and forage in the sea — a behavior unlike any other lizard in the world.
He was fascinated by the distinct variations in marine iguanas, land iguanas, and other animals across different islands, contributing to his theory of evolution and natural selection.
Preventing and Managing Iguana Problems
1. Eliminate Food Sources
If you want to prevent or manage an iguana problem on your property, you need to eliminate their food sources. This involves:
- Avoid planting fruits and flowers that iguanas prefer.
- Cleaning up dropped fruit from trees.
- Using wire mesh to protect garden beds.
2. Secure Your Pool
Iguanas will enter your pool if it is convenient for them. To prevent this, you should:
- Install pool enclosures with no entry gaps.
- Remove overhanging branches that act as access ramps.
- Consider motion-sensor sprinklers to deter basking.
3. Professional Wildlife Removal
When iguanas start nesting or becoming aggressive, it’s time to call in professionals. In Florida, it’s legal to humanely trap and remove iguanas from private property, but FWC recommends hiring licensed wildlife experts who can:
- Locate and eliminate nests.
- Prevent further entry through exclusion techniques.
- Provide long-term solutions and guidance.
Iguanas in Captivity
While iguanas are common in the pet trade, owning them in Florida comes with responsibilities. In captivity, iguanas require:
- UV lighting for proper calcium metabolism.
- A controlled warm environment.
- A specialized diet free from insects and heavy protein.
Releasing pet iguanas into the wild is illegal and directly contributes to the state’s invasive species problem.
Get Connected to Professional Iguana Removal in Florida
So, can iguanas swim? Absolutely — and their aquatic skills make them even more difficult to manage. Whether it’s the Galápagos marine iguana surviving underwater on algae or the invasive green iguanas taking over Florida backyards, these reptiles are more than capable of navigating both land and sea.
For Florida residents, recognizing the risks to property, pools, and infrastructure is essential. Preventative action, combined with professional removal services, is the best path to protecting your home from these persistent, paddle-tailed invaders.
If you have an iguana problem on your property, it’s time to seek help. At Nuisance Wildlife Rangers, we can identify and remove iguanas in a humane manner. Contact us today for more information on how we can solve your iguana infestation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Do iguanas bite or attack humans or pets?
While iguanas are generally not aggressive, they can bite if threatened. Their sharp teeth and strong jaws can cause injury, especially to curious pets like cats and small dogs. During breeding season, males may become more territorial. It’s best to avoid close contact and keep pets away from basking or cornered iguanas.
2. What time of day are iguanas most active?
Iguanas are diurnal, meaning they are active during daylight hours. They are especially active in the morning and early afternoon when they bask to raise their body temperature. Activity decreases in the evening as temperatures cool, and they usually sleep high in trees or secluded spots.
3. Can iguanas damage air conditioning units or electrical systems?
Yes. Iguanas have been known to climb onto rooftops and into mechanical spaces, potentially damaging HVAC units, electrical wiring, or insulation with their claws and droppings. Their burrowing can also destabilize the foundation beneath outdoor units. If you notice signs of iguanas near your A/C systems, consider protective barriers or professional inspection.
4. How can I tell if an iguana is nesting on my property?
Iguanas dig long, narrow burrows in soft soil, mulch, or under foundations. If you see fresh dirt piles, holes near sidewalks or seawalls, or iguanas returning to the same spot repeatedly, they may be nesting. Nesting season typically occurs in late winter to early spring, and nests may contain dozens of eggs.
5. Are iguanas protected by law in Florida?
Green iguanas are not protected in Florida except by anti-cruelty laws. Property owners are allowed to humanely kill or trap iguanas on their own property. However, local ordinances may vary, and using licensed wildlife removal services ensures safe and legal compliance with FWC guidelines.
6. What attracts iguanas to certain properties more than others?
Iguanas are drawn to properties with lush landscaping, fruit-bearing trees, access to warm basking spots, and unsecured pools or canals. Homes with vegetable gardens, dense shrubs, or uncovered compost piles are also more likely to attract them. Eliminating these attractants is a key step in prevention.
