I’m currently in south Florida killing iguanas. AMA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are things going with the pythons OP??

It's really sad how FL has become overrun with invasive species. I used to live in Ft. Lauderdale and knew some USDA folks who worked on ways to combat invasive plants but it seemed like such an uphill battle.

OP here


Python hunt yesterday was disappointing for several reasons. Go a page or two back and look for my post about the lack of small animals and birds in the Everglades.

The python problem is far worse than I’d imagined. Read the post, it’ll make sense.




Took a break from iguanas this morning and did some fishing. Caught two lionfish - another invader that is screwing up the local reefs. They were (very very carefully due to their venomous spines!) killed and put in the trash dumpster on shore.

Lionfish are TASTY. If you can find someone to show you how to remove the spine, they are worthwhile to try!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does one kill iguanas? Where do you put them? Who commissions this? Did you fly to FL just to do that?

We’re using a couple different means.

High-powered air rifles (not Red Ryder Carbine Action Range Model Air Rifles, lolz). Big, powerful air rifles. A headshot is almost always instantly lethal to even large (5ft) lizards.

Blowguns which fire darts connected to fishing line (for places where it’s too close to buildings/homes for air rifles). You dart them, reel them in, then club them.

There is a guy down here who is a fish market buyer who buys them. $.50 pound.

Yes, came here just to kill iguanas and hopefully a python or two.

This is inexcusable. I don't doubt the need. But you should do it humanely. I don't know how you live with yourself.

NP. Are you a vegetarian? If not, you're a hypocrite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I figure I’m probably the only DCUM’r who’s ever come to Fort Lauderdale for the sole purpose of killing as many giant lizards as I can in a long weekend. That seems worthy of an AMA.

Some background:

Iguanas are an invasive species in Florida. The state encourages people to kill them wherever and whenever possible. They damage native vegetation, vegetable gardens, eat bird eggs and their burrows undermine sidewalks and canal walls causing erosion. Got here earlier today, just came back from our first hunt. Wife killed 9 and I killed 6 in 2 hours. Tomorrow we have a full day hunt, and then Sunday we go to Big Cypress to do a python hunt. Then more iguanas on Monday and Tuesday.


AMA!

No question just admiration. Too bad they can't kill the idiots who bring them into the counry and then set them free when they get too big.

OP here

They don’t import them anymore. You can’t even own one as a pet now in FL.

But it really is sorta pointless now. They’re established here, and self sustaining. The only things keeping them in check at this point is cold weather - so they don’t keep expanding northwards - and people hunting them.

People still try to sneak all this exotic stuff in. I knew a guy who worked for the govt agency that deals with smuggled animals. They were overwhelmed. The stories were both scary and gross. Most people could not handle that job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Killing for sport is sick. It’s blood lust. And op admits not feeling anything. That is psychopath territory.

Op here

Whatever.

I enjoy hunting iguanas. Not going to apologize or feel guilty about it. And I couldn’t care less about you calling me names. They don’t belong here, the adults have no natural predators, they’re damaging local flora and fauna, and aggressive territorial males can injure pets and even kids that get near them. So no, I feel no sadness at all. None.

Thanks for doing this op. There are plenty of us who respect what you are doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does one kill iguanas? Where do you put them? Who commissions this? Did you fly to FL just to do that?

We’re using a couple different means.

High-powered air rifles (not Red Ryder Carbine Action Range Model Air Rifles, lolz). Big, powerful air rifles. A headshot is almost always instantly lethal to even large (5ft) lizards.

Blowguns which fire darts connected to fishing line (for places where it’s too close to buildings/homes for air rifles). You dart them, reel them in, then club them.

There is a guy down here who is a fish market buyer who buys them. $.50 pound.

Yes, came here just to kill iguanas and hopefully a python or two.

This is inexcusable. I don't doubt the need. But you should do it humanely. I don't know how you live with yourself.

OP here

I don’t live with myself! I live with my lovely Wife and our two teen boys, in a fairly average home in a nice neighborhood in MoCo.

And hitting them in the head with a fish baton IS humane. How else would you suggest killing an angry, five foot long lizard with big claws and sharp teeth? Harsh words?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I figure I’m probably the only DCUM’r who’s ever come to Fort Lauderdale for the sole purpose of killing as many giant lizards as I can in a long weekend. That seems worthy of an AMA.

Some background:

Iguanas are an invasive species in Florida. The state encourages people to kill them wherever and whenever possible. They damage native vegetation, vegetable gardens, eat bird eggs and their burrows undermine sidewalks and canal walls causing erosion. Got here earlier today, just came back from our first hunt. Wife killed 9 and I killed 6 in 2 hours. Tomorrow we have a full day hunt, and then Sunday we go to Big Cypress to do a python hunt. Then more iguanas on Monday and Tuesday.


AMA!

No question just admiration. Too bad they can't kill the idiots who bring them into the counry and then set them free when they get too big.

OP here

They don’t import them anymore. You can’t even own one as a pet now in FL.

But it really is sorta pointless now. They’re established here, and self sustaining. The only things keeping them in check at this point is cold weather - so they don’t keep expanding northwards - and people hunting them.

I live in Florida and the pythons really are decimating other species - but the iguanas are only really hurting ornamental lawns. I wish you - and whoever enticed you to Florida - wouldn't conflate the damage these two species are doing, or the necessity of hunting them. It's barbaric, what's being done to the iguanas at the behest of our state agencies. The pythons - it's still barbaric, but justified given the tradeoffs.

OP here


There’s a canal seawall right here in Dania Beach where we’re staying that the state of FL is having to rebuild because of erosion caused by iguanas. If the seawall failed during a hurricane, the blocked drainage canal would overflow into hundreds of square blocks of downtown. Thousands of people’s homes would be flooded.

Because of iguanas.


It’s not just ornamental landscaping and backyard veggie gardens being damaged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wish we could do the same with feral and outdoor cats. Horrible for native ecosystems.

OP here


I don’t think I could ever bring myself to shoot a cat. I have two cats.


But I get what you’re saying. Ferals are a HUGE problem. I can’t even fathom how many birds and small mammals they kill.


But I’m not the guy for that. I love shooting iguanas. Cats? Couldn’t do it. Sorry.

The correct way to manage feral cat populations is through targeted trap, neuter, release programs - not through mass killing. It's honestly not even funny to joke about. I know you're not trying to stir up the animal welfare people but your lighthearted tone about killing animals is pretty stomach-turning to people who care about animals.

OP here


I DO care about animals. It’s possible to care about certain animals and want to eliminate others at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you kill them? Club them over the head with a rock?

Shoot them just behind the eye with a high power airgun, or harpoon them with a dart and then beat them to death with a small club. The darts are for places where it’s not safe enough to shoot an airgun.

Is this part necessary? It's one think to shoot a living being and have it die instantly, quite another to "beat it to death."

There’s some places where we’re hunting where it just isn’t safe to use a high power airgun. If you miss, or get a through-and-through shot where it passes through the iguana and keeps going, the pellet can hit something you don’t want. Houses, windows, cars - people! Don’t want that under any circumstances! So you have to harpoon them instead, and then reel them in and dispatch them manually.

Believe me, I much prefer shooting them when possible. Yesterday I had one that my wife harpooned scratch the hell outta my left shin as I was moving in to club it. Bled all the way down in my sock! Thought I was gonna need butterfly stitches for a while until it finally scabbed over.

So sometimes the iguanas get a few licks in, too. It happens.

Former Floridian here who sort of follows the issues with invasive wildlife. I remember reading about the monkey colony near Orlando (who all apparently have syphllis?) and some monkeys in Dania Beach. Since you were scratched by the iguanas, is there risk of infection? Or is that mostly with gators?

OP here

Like most reptiles, iguanas harbor salmonella bacteria. So you try and keep your contact with them to a minimum during the hunt, and decontaminate throughout the day as needed. But then again, I’ve had salmonella from eating at a Denny’s, so nothing in life is ever guaranteed, lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are things going with the pythons OP??

It's really sad how FL has become overrun with invasive species. I used to live in Ft. Lauderdale and knew some USDA folks who worked on ways to combat invasive plants but it seemed like such an uphill battle.

OP here


Python hunt yesterday was disappointing for several reasons. Go a page or two back and look for my post about the lack of small animals and birds in the Everglades.

The python problem is far worse than I’d imagined. Read the post, it’ll make sense.


Why not throw them back for the other fish to eat?

Took a break from iguanas this morning and did some fishing. Caught two lionfish - another invader that is screwing up the local reefs. They were (very very carefully due to their venomous spines!) killed and put in the trash dumpster on shore.

OP here

Because any fish that are dumb enough to eat them - and most wont - would be poisoned by the spines.

Plus if they washed up on the beach, they could sting someone swimming in the surf, or some kid might get stung playing with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m fascinated by all the weird invasive species in Florida. How do you catch and kill a python? Are you afraid that an alligator will get you when you’re in the swamp looking for the python?

OP here


Python capture is best done with two or more people. Or one person can do it with a shotgun, assuming you can get in front of the snake for a clear headshot. That’s a lot harder than it sounds, haha!

But in pairs, one person keeps the snake’s attention occupied by moving around in front of it, while the other comes from behind with a catch pole and loops the head. Or you can throw a towel over it’s head and then grab it while it can’t see you. Either work. Then the two of you hold the snake down and behead it with a machete or flat shovel.

But we didn’t see any during our hunt.


As for gators, nah, not really a concern. This is the dry (well, mostly dry) season right now, so water levels are about 2-3 below where they are in the summer. The gators are all in permanent creek channels or ponds right now, not walking/swimming about through the shallow flooded woods like they do in the wet season in summer. So it really doesn’t look like a “swamp” right now at this time of year. It looks just like woods. It’ll be a swamp again next summer. So for now, no gators in the woods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are things going with the pythons OP??

It's really sad how FL has become overrun with invasive species. I used to live in Ft. Lauderdale and knew some USDA folks who worked on ways to combat invasive plants but it seemed like such an uphill battle.

OP here


Python hunt yesterday was disappointing for several reasons. Go a page or two back and look for my post about the lack of small animals and birds in the Everglades.

The python problem is far worse than I’d imagined. Read the post, it’ll make sense.




Took a break from iguanas this morning and did some fishing. Caught two lionfish - another invader that is screwing up the local reefs. They were (very very carefully due to their venomous spines!) killed and put in the trash dumpster on shore.

Lionfish are TASTY. If you can find someone to show you how to remove the spine, they are worthwhile to try!

I’ve heard that, and would totally be willing to try one, but none of us knew how to safely clean them and prepare them. There’s some YT videos on it, but I wanna see someone do it firsthand so I can be absolutely sure before I try it.

[Anonymous]

I thought people who lived in Bethesda were sort of bland but hoo-boy, was I wrong.

I knew a woman who kept an iguana in a tub and treated it like a baby. She had a hard time finding house sitters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought people who lived in Bethesda were sort of bland but hoo-boy, was I wrong.

I knew a woman who kept an iguana in a tub and treated it like a baby. She had a hard time finding house sitters.

OP here

Well, I’m not from Bethesda, I just live in that area now. I grew up in PG. But you’re sorta correct, I only know of one of our neighbors who would be down for a trip like this one, but they moved to AZ last year. The rest of the folks I know on our part of the block all seem pretty stodgy. I don’t play golf or watch ballgames on TV, so I’m always the odd-man-out when it comes to the rest of our neighbor-husbands. M’eh, I’m fine with that. We do cool stuff, and my Wife is awesomely badass.

[Anonymous]

This might be my favorite AMA of all time. I'm dying over the poster who suggested giving the iguanas hysterectomies! I'm also a FL native who appreciates any reduction of invasive species!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I figure I’m probably the only DCUM’r who’s ever come to Fort Lauderdale for the sole purpose of killing as many giant lizards as I can in a long weekend. That seems worthy of an AMA.

Some background:

Iguanas are an invasive species in Florida. The state encourages people to kill them wherever and whenever possible. They damage native vegetation, vegetable gardens, eat bird eggs and their burrows undermine sidewalks and canal walls causing erosion. Got here earlier today, just came back from our first hunt. Wife killed 9 and I killed 6 in 2 hours. Tomorrow we have a full day hunt, and then Sunday we go to Big Cypress to do a python hunt. Then more iguanas on Monday and Tuesday.


AMA!

No question just admiration. Too bad they can't kill the idiots who bring them into the counry and then set them free when they get too big.

OP here

They don’t import them anymore. You can’t even own one as a pet now in FL.

But it really is sorta pointless now. They’re established here, and self sustaining. The only things keeping them in check at this point is cold weather - so they don’t keep expanding northwards - and people hunting them.

I live in Florida and the pythons really are decimating other species - but the iguanas are only really hurting ornamental lawns. I wish you - and whoever enticed you to Florida - wouldn't conflate the damage these two species are doing, or the necessity of hunting them. It's barbaric, what's being done to the iguanas at the behest of our state agencies. The pythons - it's still barbaric, but justified given the tradeoffs.

OP here


There’s a canal seawall right here in Dania Beach where we’re staying that the state of FL is having to rebuild because of erosion caused by iguanas. If the seawall failed during a hurricane, the blocked drainage canal would overflow into hundreds of square blocks of downtown. Thousands of people’s homes would be flooded.

Because of iguanas.


It’s not just ornamental landscaping and backyard veggie gardens being damaged.

Give me a break, OP. The iguanas are annoying to rich people who like their lawns. You're killing them because you take a perverse pleasure in hurting living beings. The pythons are a different story - but don't come on here like you're some good guy for bashing animals' heads open for fun.