Year of Award
2024
Document Type
Professional Paper
Degree Type
Master of Arts (MA)
Degree Name
Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism
Committee Chair
Dennis Swibold
Commitee Members
Dennis Swibold, Jule Banville, Erim Gomez
Abstract
The green iguana was introduced to the state of Florida in the 1960s. Since then, their populations have exploded, confounding scientists, animal control workers and private citizens in their attempts to eradicate them. While they’ve proven themselves to be nuisance animals — destroying yards and collapsing sidewalks — iguanas still have not conclusively caused ecological damage, meaning researchers can’t be sure that they’re truly invasive. Through this reptilian crisis, private iguana hunting services, like Harold Rondan’s Iguana Lifestyles, LLC, have taken off as a way to capitalize off of iguana carnage. Whether they’re shot, euthanized or even fried and eaten, iguanas seem to be here to stay, and a warming climate may even help them spread their reach. But one question stands out among the many, many others: What does it mean to be non-native in the invasive species capital of the U.S.A.?
Recommended Citation
Moyar, Josh, "Iguanaland" (2024). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12378.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12378
© Copyright 2024 Josh Moyar