Quick iguana shot in Puerto Rico

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GiveEmLead,

Here is my take and this is what makes sense. News articles and bad liaisons that tell you to throw a creature in the garbage needs to seek counseling. The thought of throwing a once living creature from the wild and putting in your trash is atrocious and using their words Inhumane and unconscionable. Last I checked these creatures live, swim, breed and eat by the water and they are also excellent swimmers. When startled they take to the water for safety. Comparing returning these creatures to the water after death to illegal dumping is like saying you can't throw a dead fish back in the water if it's dead. Such utter nonsense. There are multiple native creatures in our canals and lakes that feed on the creatures. Circle of Life folks. 
 
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OmegaMan, I'm not arguing you're wrong. I see bloated, dead iguanas floating by on the regular. To me, once killed, it's just a piece of trash to be rid of. One of my neighbors has reached out and wants them for her table. That makes me happy. I don't mind going through some trouble to provide that. I think you probably aren't far. Let me know if I can help with your condo.
 
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I live in S. Fl and have been shooting these pesky Iguanas for awhile now. I have friends and family in several municipalities around here and do know that they specify that you cannot throw any animal in the canals or waterways, especially the Iguanas that you shoot. The law specifies that you have to kill them with one head shot, humanely. Do not get me wrong, I do not make up the rules. I live where a canal runs through the length of my yard and I also have a boat dock and go along the canals. It is disgusting to see dead stinking Iguanas floating. You have got to clean up after a kill. Vultures love them.
 
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Funshine,

Glad to hear from you. Can you please send me the Law/Link that specifies no Iguana can be thrown in waterways. Also, please send the law/link that says "kill them with one head shot". I have dug diligently into the law and can not find this. The law specifies "Humanely" This is subjective and as I have found out, even a headshot does NOT guarantee instant death. A shot to the brain will but to be specific here, at 20 yards that's like trying to hit a fingernail. I am certainly not trying to be facetious here Funshine, I have had two Lawyers and myself look into the law, including a call into the Davie Police Dept. who was full of wrong information. I wanna make sure I get it right. Thank you.






 
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Funshine,

Glad to hear from you. Can you please send me the Law/Link that specifies no Iguana can be thrown in waterways. Also, please send the law/link that says "kill them with one head shot". I have dug diligently into the law and can not find this. The law specifies "Humanely" This is subjective and as I have found out, even a headshot does NOT guarantee instant death. A shot to the brain will but to be specific here, at 20 yards that's like trying to hit a fingernail. I am certainly not trying to be facetious here Funshine, I have had two Lawyers and myself look into the law, including a call into the Davie Police Dept. who was full of wrong information. I wanna make sure I get it right. Thank you.

No Offence, I am not challenging anyone. I have read this in the Sun Sentinel. The local newspapers sometimes carry articles on it. You may be able to find information online. I figure you do as you assume to be correct. However, I am not going to risk getting in trouble with the legalities of this and if you find the correct information, please let me know about it.

Thanks.



Click to expand...


 
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Funshine,

The article in which you speak was written for Left-leaning newspaper by an Animal Activist. I have read this article and questioned the author on her Facebook page. She cited NO Law and claimed she had spoken to "experts" at the Florida Fish and Wildlife. She can't even list who she spoke to. There is SO MUCH dis-information out there. Please, don't spread it. The LAW IS "Humane" this is subjective and can NOT be answered. There is no law stating returning these creatures to the water is a violation. After speaking with a not so informed spokesperson at the Davie Police Dept. she claimed it was "Illegal Dumping" This couldn't be further from the truth. The very definition of the law identifies "dumping" as man-made materials and chemicals in excess being put on non designated areas. Iguanas are NOT man-made and therefore the law does NOT apply. Remember, these creatures are aquatic. They live and breed and find safety in the water. I have witnessed personally turtles, fish, Gar and other creatures who FEAST on these animals. My argument is the "Circle of Life" I am feeding native creatures food that is NOT native. My ultimate here point is FAKE NEWS. That is what the Sun Sentinal article is trying to do, to "scare" away those of us irradicating these menaces. Remember, Florida Laws labels these creatures as "INVASIVE" and can be killed 24/7 year round, no permit. "Humanely" ....good luck with that one.
 
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TheRealOmegaMan:

Seems like you have done a lot of research on this stuff, however, dumping the iguanas in the canals where people live is not nice and is disgusting. I can see one doing so in areas where backyards are not bounded by a canal. It is all discretionary and "Humanely" Well, any animal that suffers prior to death when you shoot it is you being … so yes, you should try to be doing this in a humane manner as possible. Thank you.
 
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Funshine,

I am an avid gun enthusiast and owner of high-quality rifles from .223, 6.8, 7.62, 308, 338 Lapua and a .50 (sadly never shot that one). I am also a firm follower of the Constitution and its Amendments, most notably the 2nd. With that said, I am NOT a hunter and I am a law-abiding citizen (yeah, I speed :)). I would never believe in killing animals unless for food. Pests (not including insects), I always try natural methods and then turn to fatal means such as the rifles if the natural methods fail. In this case the Air Rifles. Funshine, I live in a community in the Raches of Davie. My home, as well as others, is on a lake. Last year there was a small infestation of Iguanas, about 10-20 hanging around the lake. Homeowners were complaining and they were defecating in community fountain, our pools and eating away our landscape. Believe this one, I actually got one of the Iguanas craping in my pool on my security camera. So the war has begun :)))). Throwing the dead creatures in the canals and lakes is a GOOD thing. Now I a not talking dumping mass carcasses, just 3 or 4. Each time I eradicated one in my neighborhood, I would throw them back in our lake (remember, they run to water when startled) and rest assured within the hour ALL carcass disappeared!! Turtles, fish, Gar and other water creatures FEAST on these guys, hence "Circle of Life". Also, most of the time Iguanas sink, not float. The exception I found was at my hunting area. I came back the next day after a hunt and forget to toss one in the water. It was REALLY starting to stink (another reason for water burial) so I threw it in. It floated not doubt but again, 2 days later all that was left as a piece of tail and leg and the turtles were having a feast. My point is, it is NOT disgusting unless you wait until the carcasses become bloated, even then fishes feast. Throw them in after a fresh kill they will sink. I challenge you to spot where you sink them, come back the next day and I'll gamble the carcass will be gone. Circle of Life.


 
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TheRealOmegaMan:

I have had similar problems as you, including the destruction of our plants and vegetable gardens. My neighbors are quite fed up as well, and I am not the only one around that shoots them. However, there is someone that traps them from an adjoining canal and toss the body in the water that passes through our area. You can see them stick up under our docks and sure enough they may sink when first killed, but after a day or so they float like balsa. I and my neighbors have had to remove dead iguanas from our Docks and around our boats numerous times because of the stinking issue. Sure fish and other wildlife may devour them, but not right away, thus, the problem. We leave them in an open field area where the vultures take care of them. Now, enough of this, we both just need to get together and eradicate these pesky iguanas. Take care, my friend.
 
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@Calusa, @TheRealOmegaMan, @Funshine, we are all South Floridians overrun by these vile creatures. I started a thread on the Next Door app that's got over 200 comments so far. And this was before the press got that FWC memo about what has been the law for some time now. Now everyone knows about the iguana menace, and it may make it easier for us to do our iguana jihad duty.

My take on a few of your concerns: I've lived on the Bel-Aire canal for over 20 years. I've seen changes in my beloved canal in that time. It's still one of the cleanest in the entire county, and the wildlife is fantastic. The iguanas were not here when I moved here. They were here and there, and all of a sudden they are every-freaking-where. I have, just from my back yard, about 125 confirmed kills to date. Probably twice that number eluded a confirmed kill, but departed my view with my lead in them. Most of them wind up in the canal despite my efforts. I would prefer to dispose of them:

1. Put the carcasses into the hands of individuals who would eat them. Best solution, full stop. I have a phone number for one neighbor that has expressed an interest, but have not been able to hook up for a delivery.

2. Collect the carcass(es), throw into a large old boat cooler I have, and keep them iced down until trash day, then in the green bin and off to Mt. Trashmore.

3. Allow them to go into the canal. I like this one least, because I have, indeed, seen a number of nasty stinking floaters come by. No bueno. I love my canal, and that nastiness just doesn't belong.

I suppose you may find that it is perfectly legal to throw the carcasses into the canal. If it's one like most of S. Florida's, which are typically full of trash, who cares. But not in my canal, please. What I would like to do is find some good locations down south here and just freaking slay. Maybe down by the Aerojet canal in deep S. Dade. It's one of the FWC's "22 open areas" for shooting invasives with non-firearms. Also just west of the Mic. Gotta get our hunt on fellas!
 
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Well said, sir. Just a word here... Keep a couple of things in mind and you may disagree. One, these creatures are aquatic. They live and breed by water. They find refuge and safety in the water. Also, I live on a man-made lake in my community. My neighbor was fed up with these creatures as well and bought a Gamo to take care of his problem. A novice for sure and not a gun enthusiast by any stretch he still managed to kill one. He didn't know what to do with the carcass. I urged him to bring it to my house since he didn't want it stinking up the garbage, plus he lives two doors down. I explained that even though this creature is a mance it is still a creature. Throwing an animal in the garbage just doesn't sit right with me. I told him if we tossed it in the lake behind my house the carcass would be gone in an hour. We did. One-half hour later....GONE. The multitude of creatures in our canals and lakes have a FEAST on these creatures. How perfect the Circle of Life is. Ridding one menace to feed creatures native to our state. My point? These animals feed other animals. Circle of Life. Plus, when dead, these creatures sink, not float. Making the bottom feeders very happy. Just food for thought.
 
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