The City of Sanibel is rebooting its Exotic Lizard Management Program after the first reported case of a Spiny-tailed iguana was spotted on the island.
The task force was put together in 2007 after an increase in green iguanas and Nile monitor lizards. After record-cold temperatures in the winter of 2010, the majority of the lizards died off and the task force shut down.
The Spiny-tailed iguana eats both plants and animals. The green iguanas feed mostly on colorful flowers and were only a nuisance to homeowners.
Sanibel environmental biologist Holly Milbrandt said this new lizard could have harmful effects on protected species on the island.
“There is evidence that they could impact eggs of nesting sea birds or the eggs of nesting sea-turtles,” said Milbrandt “They could also impact some other protected species like gopher tortoises. There are a number of iguanas or other lizards that will take over gopher tortoise burrows so they could be a problem for reproducing tortoises and eating eggs and things like that,” she said.
Milbrandt encourages people to contact the Sanibel Police Department through its non-emergency number at (239) 472-3111 if they spot any type of iguana on the island.