The overlap with peak activity
Hurricane season in South Florida runs June through November, which overlaps the peak of iguana activity almost exactly. Storms don't wipe iguanas out — they mostly ride it out in burrows and dense cover — but they do reshuffle the problem.
High water and storm surge wash out canal and lake banks, opening new soft ground for burrowing. Downed limbs, brush piles, and debris become instant cover and basking spots. And displaced animals move into yards and structures they weren't using before.
The calls we get after a storm
After a storm we get a run of calls about iguanas turning up in unexpected places — inside pool cages a branch tore open, under debris piles, in a garage or shed left ajar during cleanup.
- Check seawall and slope burrows for surge damage and enlargement
- Clear brush and debris piles that give cover and basking
- Close up pool cages, sheds, and garages breached in the storm
- Watch canal and lake banks that washed out and re-softened
Why a program pays off here
It's worth walking your property once the yard is safe: check that seawall and slope burrows haven't been reopened or enlarged by the surge, clear brush that's giving them cover, and close up any enclosures that got breached. If you were on a monitored program before the storm, this is exactly when it pays off, because the bank work and trap lines pick the reshuffled animals back up quickly.
Common questions
Do hurricanes get rid of iguanas?
No. They mostly shelter in burrows and cover and ride it out. Storms scatter them and reopen bank burrows, so the problem usually looks worse afterward, not better.
Why do I see more iguanas after a storm?
Surge washes out banks and opens new burrowing ground, debris becomes cover and basking spots, and displaced animals move into yards and breached enclosures.
What should I check on my property after a storm?
Once it's safe, look at seawall and slope burrows for washout and enlargement, clear brush piles, and close up any pool cage, shed, or garage that got breached.
