3 min read- Floridians are capturing and cooking green iguanas, an invasive species known to damage infrastructure, landscaping, and vegetation.
- During cold snaps in the winter, iguanas become stunned and fall out of trees, making them easy prey.
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says green iguanas can be captured and humanely killed on private property.
Carnivores have existed for hundreds of millions of years—yet, some animal meat is less commonly consumed than others. Sure, you’ve likely tried chicken and beef and turkey, but fewer have ventured into delicacies like kangaroo and venison. It might even depend on where you live. Alligator, for example, is much more popular in the southern United States, while pheasant is quite common in Europe. What may seem odd to some is par for the course for others. We’d never yuck someone else’s yum.
So try not to judge when I tell you that people down in Florida have turned to making tacos and pizzas using green iguana meat. These iguanas are an invasive species in some places, like Puerto Rico, where they have been a delicacy for a long time. However, in areas where the animal is native, like South and Central America, people have been hunting and eating iguana—also dubbed the “chicken of the trees”—for so long that they’ve become endangered.
That’s not the case in Florida, however. The pesky reptile damages infrastructure, landscaping, and vegetation, and is a threat to native wildlife. But Floridians don’t always have to work hard to catch them. Sometimes, the iguanas literally fall out of trees. When temperatures drop, they become cold-stunned, lose muscle control, and appear dead. So each winter, it’s not unusual to see iguanas tumbling from branches—an opportunity some locals take advantage of by cooking them up.
And that’s actually not a bad thing. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, green iguanas can be captured and humanely killed on private property with the landowner’s permission at any time. As long as the iguanas are killed in a humane manner, the general public is free to hunt. Since iguanas become stunned in winter, it’s a popular time to take advantage of their temporary slumber. This time of year, people are getting creative with the chicken of the trees.
Bucks Coal Fired Pizza, a North Palm Beach restaurant, is making “Everglades Pizzas” topped with venison, bacon, and iguana. Influencer Gray Davis showcased his homemade iguana tacos in an Instagram post.
People’s emotions run the gamut—some are flabbergasted or even downright disgusted, while others are more intrigued and supportive.
“As someone who had a pet iguana I’m in disbelief 😭😭,” commented one Instagram user. “This man will survive the apocalypse,” another wrote of Davis.
“We eat Iguana in Trinidad and Tobago and it’s delicious,” one person commented. “That’s the most Florida s**t I’ve ever seen,” another wrote.
“I don’t know how i feel about this but i decided that there’s no reason why i should be against eating lizards but not chicken or cows or something,” one person reasoned.
Similarly, another person commented, “I mean …. People eat Gator meat and Rattlesnakes, why not Iguana lol…. I know a lot of cultures eat iguanas… that’s a no thank you for me lmao but that pizza still looks delicious!!”
Still, cooking iguanas at home should be done with caution. “The FWC reminds the public not to bring live iguanas inside your homes or vehicles without a permit, as they can recover quickly and act defensively, using their sharp teeth and claws and their long tails that whip,” says a spokesperson from the FWC. Green iguanas are also a prohibited species, so it is illegal to have live iguanas in your home without a permit, and releasing or relocating them is illegal. The FWC also maintains that “Caution would be advised if lead shot is present in the meat.”
All that said, would you eat iguana??