REMOVED: Iguana found in Florida home's fireplace: 'End up anywhere'

An invasive green iguana was safely removed from a Miami kitchen cabinet after it "dashed right into the house."

"A resident in south Florida contacted us about finding an invasive green iguana in their fire pit," said Ronquillo to Planet Chronicle Digital. "Uncertain what to do, they contacted Humane Iguana Control to help have it removed. I wasn't surprised. Iguanas can pretty much end up anywhere."

Iguanas can be either brighter green or blue, as shown in the video shared by Humane Iguana Control.

"Ronquillo advised Planet Chronicle Digital that residents should contact professional iguana removal companies to avoid health risks and potential harm due to iguanas having sharp teeth and nails. He also mentioned that iguanas can have up to a 30mph tail whip and carry salmonella, which can spread to human populations. In the given situation, the homeowners blocked the iguana in their home."

The FWC states that green iguanas, being nonnative reptiles, are not legally protected in Florida except for anti-cruelty laws. On private property, they can be humanely killed with the landowner's permission.

Iguanas are invasive in south Florida, where man-made canals serve as dispersal corridors, allowing them to colonize new areas. Homeowners in the region with coconut or palm trees near their homes should cut them back to prevent iguanas from entering their properties. Green Iguanas were added to Florida's prohibited species list in April 2021 and can be humanely killed year-round without a hunting license or permit.