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Miami Beach committee reviews iguana-removal practices, asks staff to return with options
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Summary
The committee discussed public complaints about on-site euthanasia and vendor methods under the city—s iguana remediation contract, heard competing capture methods and costs, and asked staff to return within a month with recommendations for program adjustments and expanded outreach to private property owners.
Miami Beach—s Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee heard detailed testimony on June 10 about the city—s iguana-remediation contract and directed staff to return with follow-up recommendations within about a month.
Committee members and staff discussed public safety concerns after a reported incident in which an iguana was injured during removal. Committee Chair Commissioner Laura Dominguez opened the item and said the goal was to protect residents and visitors. Ron Mumma, director of Facilities and Fleet, presented the administration—s update and introduced the contractor from Blue Iguana Pest Control.
Tom, a representative of Blue Iguana Pest Control, described the company—s methods and training, saying the crews use compressed-pellet air rifles and undergo a safety course with a marksman trainer. "We paint them bright orange ... it stays in what we call the sack," Tom said of the equipment, and he described internal rules meant to reduce public alarm and increase discretion.
Chad, president of the Venetian Islands Homeowners Association, and other residents described alternate methods used by neighborhoods on waterfront properties. "We have had success with water visits ... we use a snare, not a rifle," Chad said, explaining his neighborhood—s technique of dislodging iguanas from seawalls and capturing them with nets.
Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez and Commissioner Fernandez pressed staff on scale and outcomes. Fernandez summarized memo figures saying the vendor has "removed over 12,000 iguanas citywide since 2022," and staff said roughly 1,020 were removed this year, with a slowdown during spring break. Staff described a three-zone service map (north, mid, south) and said roughly 20 of 34 scheduled locations are parks.
Staff described discounts available to homeowners who hire the vendor privately; the contractor said an annual, nondiscounted private-property program costs about $2,400 (about $24 per visit), and the Miami Beach resident rate is $1,500 a year (about $15 per visit). Facilities staff said they would explore options to lower costs for low-income residents.
After extensive discussion about methods, locations and gaps in private-property participation, the committee asked staff and the vendor to meet with neighborhood groups, explore combining land and water strategies, return with operational data (including participation counts for Miami Beach private properties), and bring a status update and options to the committee at its next monthly meeting.
The committee did not change the contract or authorize new funding during the meeting; members asked for additional information and asked staff to consider whether the city can subsidize private-property captures to reduce the overall population over time.
