HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Cold-stunned iguanas occasionally fall from trees in South Florida, but taking a dip in a toilet was a first for one homeowner.
“There’s nothing like getting up in the morning and finding an iguana in your toilet,” said Gary Greenspan as he documented the reptile in a video Saturday while waiting for animal control to arrive. “It is alive.”
The Hollywood, Florida, man said he had no idea how the iguana ended up in the ceramic bowl.
“I don’t know if it was just looking for a spa day or what, but it’s huge,” Greenspan laughed. “Once they remove it, I’ll be a happy camper and hopefully so will the iguana.”
Iguana catchers have reported that these animals can climb trees and rooftops, and are even capable of creeping into plumbing systems through the vent on the roof of a house.
WHEN DO IGUANAS FALL FROM TREES IN FLORIDA?
Green iguanas are an invasive species in Florida, just like the Burmese Python, wild monkeys and the giant toxic cane toads.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has reported that sightings of lizard-like reptiles began in the 1960s around Miami-Dade County. The iguana population has since grown and spread as far north as St. Lucie County and along the Gulf Coast.
Green iguanas can become quite large, reaching up to 5 feet long and weighing nearly 20 pounds.
According to the FWC, escaped or released pets are Florida’s primary source of invasive species.