I think we should just open up season and kill them all. I'll take some of the meat.

You know, the FWC's policy on wild hogs is really kinda schizophrenic. On one hand, they let private landowners slaughter them at will, in any number, at any age, in any season.
On the other hand, they protect hogs like they are some kind of endangered species on Wildlife Management Areas, National Forests, State Parks, and other public land, while crying about what a nuisance and ecological threat they are. Gimme a break!

Well, I think the worst invasive mammals are humans!

My Uncle had hundreds of acres in Lake Placid and my cousin and I would go horse back riding and the first thing I was told was to watch out for the wild pigs. They would charge you. But, while I agree they can tear up your yard, they also areagate the ground. So they provide food for us and we poisen the ground!

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park has a capture program, so not all state parks are averse to this. Also, I have seen cages at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Trust me, the state wants them gone. I don't know where you got that information.

Good point mistiaggie .
When in doubt , check the website :
www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu

They are kinda cute! Especially the babies!

In Texas we have javenlina out west. They are kinda cool but I am not sure if they are native or not.

These are in Highlands County, Lake Placid area.

So why aren't we paying some ranchers or hunters to kill them and bring them to a slaughterhouse? Of course they would need some type of permit. I would think a "pay them per animal" bounty would get interest and the meat could be given to a food bank.

Same thing needs to be done to iguanas. I'm sure they could be dog food or something.

They might be cute (and the babies are) but they truly are a menace. I've seen huge areas totally turned over and ravaged by them. Every plant destroyed and the roots eaten.

It is my understanding that they don't make the best eating. I've been told (and read) that they are very strong and "piggy" tasting, with meat that's rather tough. (My grandmother would call this kind of flavor "boar taint." ) I can't vouch for that, as I've never eaten one.

I don't have any current info on what the state's policies are regarding them, but it only makes sense that they would want them gone, like all feral animals.

Marcia

You can hunt wild boar any time, no license required. Ofcourse you can't go on some ones private property. That's why alot of guys have pit bulls. They are used to hunt the wild pigs!

If you belong to a hunting camp, sometimes they set traps for the hogs and pin them for a month or two and feed them grain, that way they aren't as gamey. They can be very tasty.

My opion still stands, the the man is the most invasive mammal! The iguanas, boas and a bunch more live here now because of people.

Hey, does that mean Man is also the most invasive PLANT as well? Haha! Pesonally, I say man is certainly almost always the CAUSE of invasive animals and plants, that's for sure. We bring 'em in where they don't belong, intentionally some times, accidentally other times. That's why I think it is incumbent upon us to at least make an effort to right the wrongs we have caused. (I reckon that applies to everything in life.)

Marcia

In Florida, the top three invasive mammals:

1. Yankees
2. Rats
3. Boars

At the rate they are multiplying, the iguanas are going to make your Cuban tree frogs look mild. They are on every canal bank by the hundreds and they are at the point that they've moved beyond being near water. I have at least 3 or 4 in my yard.

{{gwi:470890}}

are iguanas tasty?

I've heard they taste like chicken, Ill-Man! And Minibim, I think my CTF's could EAT them! Okay, maybe not. I hope they don't survive this far north, but I'm definitely not going to like it if they show up here. They will be on my hit list, too, though I doubt I will be smiting them over the head with a shovel. Depends on how bad they get, if they arrive in my yard. I'd probably get traps. But then what? That's the question!

Marcia

I think some South Americans do eat them.

I'd like to trap the ones in my yard, but have no idea what to do with them after I trapped them. I'd also need a bigger trap, mine is about raccoon/cat size and isn't even big enough for these 4 foot monsters. The only recommendation is freezing them, and I'm not sure how the state expects many people to have a freezer larger enough to fit a live trap, plus who wants to put an iguana in their freezer. Funny though the state recommends a snare as a way to trap them. I don't really consider a snare humane or very discriminate.

I'm very wimpy about killing creatures, but if I had somewhere to take them after I caught them, I would catch these darn iguanas.

The county really needs to step up and give residents a way to dispose of them. Many exotics probably could be controlled slowly, if residents had a place to take them to. The county is making no effort to control them aside from a pretty useless new law. Now pet stores are required to microchip them. Big deal. I can see county workers chasing around iguanas waving wands at them!

Luckily they shouldn't become a nuisance farther north as the frost does kill them.

Lets see if this link shows up.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2246845_catch-cook-iguana.html

Okay, Minibim...now brace yourself...I agree with everything you just posted. The situation is doable if people in "power" would just put their minds to it. With enough publicity, the public would help and it could work. But they (they being state officials, etc) just don't seem to get it together long enough to make any progress at actually dealing with the problem.

Iguanas in the freezer? I don't think so! And I think exactly as you do...what would you do with them after catching them? Sell them to a pet store so someone else can take them home and let them escape again? Try to get already overstocked zoos to take them? And I know they are a food source for some people, but I can't actually see MYSELF butchering and cooking one. I can't stand to clean FISH!

It is a problem that we OUGHT to be able to handle. We are supposed to be smarter than lizards! But between well-meaning but often ignorant bureaucrats and red tape and a public that's at best confused or conflicted about the whole invasive situation, nothing is happening at all. It's a bit depressing, isn't it?

Marcia

PEOPLE!

Freezing them is considered the humane way to kill them.
link

It is an issue. The state is overrun with a lot of nuisance species, plant and animal, and it takes an educated consumer to know what to do and to educate the public. The state can't handle it all. If you wanted that, get your taxes raised so they can afford to hire more personnel.

Well humane or not (and I might argue the point) who has room for a 4 foot iguana in their freezer? I have trouble fitting a turkey in mine! Sometimes even the ice cream cartons are crowded. I just can't imagine very many people actually doing that!

We ARE still talking iguanas here, right? Cuz the thought of shoving a snorting, squealing wild boar into my freezer is pretty entertaining!

Marcia

With fish, the humane method of euthanasia is clove oil, used for toothaches (eugenol). It puts them to sleep at low doses and kills them instantly at higher doses. I would imagine that an injection (like the ones for putting dogs/cats to sleep) would do the trick.

It's funny, when I lived in Miami, we had an iguana that fell out of the tree by the mailbox and slammed into the concrete that winter that we had a frost (can't remember when it was, I was a youngster!) I was heartbroken, crying and crying, because I'd seen it often, just hanging out up there, and had come to think of it as my pet. I even had a name for it, can't recall what though. I did climb that tree a few times to get closer to it!

Now that I live in Central Florida, I know about the problem of wild hogs, they really are such a nuisance along SR 40. I can't imagine anyone would be keen on the meat for human consumption as they are usually worm infested. I suppose it would make a fine outdoor pit BBQ specimen...but even then, I would only feed it to the dogs.

That is always a typical rant from many people "more services, pay more taxes". Sure, I can double the taxes I pay and all it would do is pay for a few more week-end vacations, I mean seminars, for some bureaucrats to "study" the situation.

Currently, the cities pass the buck to the county, the county passes the buck to the state and we just go around in circles.

If you want my opinion why many things can't ever get done, is more because of our litigious society. If you told hunters, we'd give them $10 for every boar they bagged, the problem would be gone in no time. The state will never do such a thing because they would be terrified that someone would get hurt, shot etc. Of course we know if that happened it would not be the fault of the person, it'd be the state's fault.

Whether the state gave the meat away or found a dog food factory, it seems something could be done with the meat.

As far as the iguanas, thank you again for stating the "humane method" for disposal as decided by some experts living in a fantasy somewhere. If it's not a fantasy, please let me know where you live and I will gladly drop off my 4 foot iguanas for you to stick in your food freezer.

The iguana situation could easily be reduced by homeowners, if they just had a place to take the iguanas. So many homeowners right now would do anything to be rid of the iguanas in their yard. Personally, I would drive to animal control and pay them $5 to euthanize, which would be about $4.00 profit. Currently the only option besides freezing is to pay a trapper for disposal and most want about $50 per iguana - not feasible for many people. ...and again, something most certainly can be done with the meat, whether giving it to South Americans or a fertilizer company.

There is a way to take care of some the circle thinking...vote people out of office.

Why don't you tell us the great idea you have that would be the best way to get rid of iguana's? Everyone should just shoot them outside their front yard? Every animal control officer starts taking over iguana duty instead of cat duty? You tell me. Maybe you should start your own iguana catching business??

I'm sorry, instead of moaning and groaning, come up with a better method.

Then there is the Boa also that has multiplied in the everglades! Guess we will always have this since our weather is so good and people just get tired of their pets.
It is a sad state of affairs for sure.

I made a suggestion for the iguanas. Take them to animal control and pay them $5 to euthanize. It's affordable for everyone and it wouldn't cost the county or animal control additional funds.

I've also made my suggestion to both our city officials and our county officials - all who have passed the buck to another government agency. In the meantime the county thinks they have the end all solution with microchipping. Now they can't sit back on their butts and brag about how they solved everything.

The boas are a problem, but FWC does have a couple of officers who's job it is to shoot them. Not that it'll make a dent, but it's far more than what they are doing with other exotics.

If the pet stores were not allowed to sell certain kritters,then maybe people would not just let them go when they get tried of them.They really do need somewhere for pet owners to take unwanted pets.Pet owners should also be more responsible with there pets,maybe more educated about what there getting [how big they will be, how much they will eat].Most people after awhile don't have time anymore to care for the pet or just don't want to, they open the door and say good bye.that really sad.

Denise

My problem with this discussion is linking invasive with humane. In my mind invasive links with exterminate! Just as we regularly poison fire ant hills, spray for roaches, tent for termites, and set poison bait for rats with no thought to humaneness, so we should look at all invasives.
In more rural areas this should present no problem as our firearms companies make a variety of tools for every purpose. Disposal is no problem; buzzards have to eat too.
Developed areas present more of a challenge, but can be overcome. A pneumatic powered pellet rifle, where the amount of 'pumps' determines the power/distance and can be had for under $75. It is almost silent, has no recoil, and the pellets cost is miniscule, allowing one to become proficient for $5, in their backyard. Make no mistake this 'BB gun' will kill! Disposal is via garbage bag at the curb.
Just my 2cents.