Florida homeowner finds 98 iguana eggs in backyard: 'It’s the most we’ve ever removed from one site'

If you thought Florida s wildest residents were only identified on South Beach think again In the sun-soaked suburbs of Palmetto Bay one Miami homeowner in recent days discovered she was inadvertently hosting the reptilian version of a baby shower with uninvited guests Eventually she called in the experts at Humane Iguana Control and what they uncovered was remarkable even by Florida standards We removed eggs Michael Ronquillo owner of Humane Iguana Control explained Fox News Digital Three female iguanas had nested in burrows that were all interconnected and each had laid her own clutch IGUANA REMOVED FROM MIAMI KITCHEN CABINET AFTER 'DASHING RIGHT INTO THE HOUSE'The discovery made after several inspections and trap setups turned into what may be a local record It s the the greater part eggs we ve ever removed from a single site noted Ronquillo We couldn t find another affair of that plenty of being pulled out at once To anyone outside the Sunshine State it might sound dramatic But for South Floridians it s another day in the life of battling invasive wildlife Iguanas are more than a nuisance Ronquillo mentioned They pose medical risks cause landscape destruction and they dig burrows that can damage infrastructure In one infamous example an iguana-related burrowing event in West Palm Beach caused million in damage after compromising a dam We ve seen them dig under streets sidewalks and sea walls he added And if they re digging in your backyard you might not know it until the ground collapses under you SEE IT IGUANA REMOVED FROM FIREPLACE IN FLORIDA HOME 'END UP ANYWHERE'Beyond property concerns there s the sanitation issue They ll defecate around pools schools playgrounds It s a medical hazard announced Ronquillo We get calls from schools where kids are playing under trees and the iguanas are just up there going to the bathroom Constantly Iguanas laying that countless eggs isn't just wild it's efficient There s a hatch rate for iguana eggs Ronquillo announced If the client hadn t called us that entire neighborhood would ve had a serious challenge in just a sparse months The reason this yard became an iguana maternity ward Prime real estate They ll test a bunch of spots he explained If the ground s too hard or too hot they ll move on But this spot soft soil a few shade near water was perfect So they all locked onto it As a homeowner discovering iguanas on site what you don t do in this situation matters even more The worst thing people can do is cover up the holes announced Ronquillo We tell our clients to flag the burrows use a little irrigation flag or something visible and call a professional When the holes are covered it compacts the soil and makes it harder for us to dig the right path and remove the eggs Ronquillo s association uses cameras and hand-digging to trace iguana tunnels It s not just digging a hole and pulling something out he disclosed You have to understand how they move and build their burrows Breeding season typically runs from February to May though Ronquillo cautions that surprises aren t uncommon We ve seen baby iguanas in July August even September he stated So while it s more common in spring it can technically happen all year Iguanas aren t native to Florida they re invasive and their presence traces back to the s The iguanas originally arrived through the pet exchange region and cargo ships disclosed Ronquillo They d float over on lumber after hurricanes or be issued by owners who couldn t care for them Florida s warm environment abundant food sources and lack of natural predators created the perfect conditions for them to thrive and multiply They eat native bird eggs destroy landscaping and dig burrows that damage roads sidewalks and even dams Ronquillo explained Their impact has been so severe that Florida classifies them a population nuisance and encourages humane removal efforts If you spot digging don t break out the shovel or worse Don t try to remove it yourself and definitely don t put poison in the holes Ronquillo stated Just flag it and call a licensed removal company These reptiles also come with built-in defense mechanisms so don't try this at home They have very sharp claws and teeth and their tails can whip at up to miles an hour Ronquillo explained If you re not experienced you could end up in the ER We ve had clients try to grab one and end up with serious injuries CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThis Miami homeowner made one call and prevented nearly invasive reptiles from joining the neighborhood This client helped stop a whole new infestation commented Ronquillo If more people act that fleetly we can really make a difference Ronquillo s final note It's not just about one backyard If everybody does their part he announced we can protect our context and our neighborhoods Just like this client did It really makes a difference