On average, iguana removal costs $1,250, but it can range between $500 and $2,000 depending on the size and scope of the infestation.
On average, iguana removal costs $1,250, though costs tend to range anywhere from $500 to $2,000 depending on the scope of the problem. Iguanas are easier and less expensive to remove when concentrated in one area, but when they spread out across your entire property, it requires additional traps and time to deal fully with.
Every iguana removal job is unique, and costs can vary greatly based on the infestation size and location.
| Number of Iguanas | Removal Cost |
|---|---|
| Single | $200 |
| Small group | $500 |
| Infestation | $2,000 |
One of the main factors in the cost of iguana removal is the scope of the infestation. Many iguana specialists and other animal control professionals will charge a minimum fee to visit your property regardless of how many iguanas are involved. Expect a minimum fee of around $200 for one iguana.
You may pay around $500 for the traps and time it takes to capture multiple iguanas in one area. In the case of a large, spread-out infestation, you may pay closer to $2,000 to have traps set up across your entire property for multiple weeks.
Iguanas will nest just about anywhere. They are attracted to backyard pools, fruit trees, swampy areas, and anywhere they can find a steady source of food, water, and shelter. A more difficult removal job comes with more liability and risks for the removal specialist, so expect additional fees for iguanas nesting in hard-to-reach places.
A full property inspection is the most time-consuming part of many iguana removal jobs. Iguana removal technicians will check under your home, on the roof, and anywhere else that iguanas may nest before creating a plan to trap and remove them. The larger and more complex your property, the more you'll pay for this inspection.
Some iguana removal companies offer ongoing monitoring services, providing long-term control for an additional recurring fee. They'll regularly visit your property to identify and close new burrows as well as remove eggs from nests.
Iguana monitoring can also identify opportunities to prevent iguanas from entering the property. This can include trimming tree branches to prevent iguanas from accessing your roof or making entry points like waterways more difficult or impossible for iguanas to navigate.
DIY iguana removal is legal in certain states, including Florida. Green iguanas and other nonnative reptiles are only protected by anti-cruelty laws in Florida, so they can be killed or captured without a permit on your property and in certain public lands as long as you do so humanely. An iguana trap that holds multiple animals at once costs $50 to $90.
However, it is illegal to possess, transport, relocate, or release iguanas in Florida without a permit. We recommend hiring a local wildlife control company or iguana removal specialist.
These pros know local regulations and safe iguana removal methods such as trapping and releasing. They know the best bait for an iguana trap and will come equipped with the necessary equipment and permits for the job.
The best way to save money on iguana removal is to prevent iguanas from entering your property in the first place. There are several tricks you can use to deter iguanas and other animals.
Don't leave pet food or ripened fruit outside where iguanas can find it
Don't plant iguana-attracting plants such as roses, orchids, hibiscus, jasmine, or firebush
Place cages or screens around your vegetation to prevent iguanas from accessing it
Install a motion-activated sprinkler for $25 to $60 that will startle iguanas away
Bury a wire fence barrier around your property's perimeter to prevent tunneling
The laws in Florida allow residents to kill iguanas on certain public lands and on private lands with landowner permission, even without a permit. Residents are encouraged to kill iguanas, a nonnative reptile seen as a pest throughout the state. Landowners are responsible for removal. Residents are not legally allowed to possess, transport, or relocate iguanas without a permit.
To dispose of a dead iguana in Florida, first learn your local regulations. Litter laws may subject disposal in roads or bodies of water to a fine or jail time. Some towns restrict animal carcasses in trash bins. Instead, consider burial or cremation to get rid of an iguana. You may be able to dispose of iguana carcasses with a local animal control company, vet, or pet cemetery for a fee.
Iguanas cause a variety of damage to properties and pose other dangers. Their tunnels can collapse seawalls and foundations. They destroy native plants, trees, gardens, and agriculture. They compete with native animals for food. Their droppings, left almost anywhere, can transmit salmonella which is especially dangerous to vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.
