The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Friday issued an executive order allowing the public to collect and transport live, cold-stunned green iguanas without a permit during a brief cold-weather window.
Executive Order 26-03 will be in effect on Sunday and Monday, according to an FWC release.
Officials say the order allows people to remove green iguanas from private property with landowner permission, or from commission-managed lands in South and Southwest Florida, and deliver them directly to designated FWC offices.
Green iguanas are a prohibited invasive species in Florida.
Outside the dates listed in the order, possession of a live green iguana, including during transport, requires a permit.
Collected iguanas will be humanely euthanized or transferred to permitted dealers for live animal sales.
FWC will accept iguanas at five locations:
- Sunday, Feb. 1: 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, Feb. 2: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Drop-off sites:
- FWC South Florida Regional Lab, 2796 Overseas Highway 119, Marathon
- FWC Office, 10052 NW 53rd St., Sunrise
- FWC Tequesta Field Lab, 19100 SE Federal Highway (U.S. 1), Tequesta
- FWC Law Enforcement Office, 2423 Edwards Drive, Fort Myers
- FWC Southwest Regional Office, 3900 Drane Field Road, Lakeland
Officials said people without permits may possess live iguanas only for transport to an FWC office.
They said Iguanas must be placed in a sealed, escape-proof cloth bag and then secured inside a locked container labeled “prohibited reptiles.” Bags must remain closed until transferred to FWC staff.
FWC also advises wearing protective gloves, long sleeves and pants when handling iguanas. Collected animals should be transported immediately to reduce the risk of escape.
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