MARCO ISLAND, Fla. — People living on Marco Island are concerned that the iguana population is getting out of control, so this week city council approved spending fifteen thousand dollars to get rid of them.
"Sometimes there's twelve to fifteen out here at a time," said Robert Choate, a Marco Island resident who sees iguanas outside his home often. "They'll have a big crowd."
The city has previously employed wildlife trapper Alfredo Fermin to remove them. Fermin had to stop when the five thousand dollars that the city had originally funded for his services ran out in the first quarter of 2019's fiscal year.
According to Fermin's web site, iguanas can spread salmonella bacteria in their droppings.
But not everyone is concerned about the iguanas on the island. Lori Lamendola thinks the city should save the money spent trapping them.
"I don't find them to be a nuisance at all," she said. "I think they're beautiful creatures."
