A man owes his new career to the iguanas plaguing his backyard swimming pool.

Pompano Beach, Florida resident Stephen Dickenson has become a professional iguana trapper, thanks to a bad case of salmonella his son contracted after swimming in the family’s pool.

The boy jumped into the backyard pool shortly upon returning home from a vacation and before noticing he was swimming with iguana feces.

It wasn’t long before the boy became violently ill.

Salmonella and iguana-related illnesses weren’t something that the Dickensons were familiar with, despite the current prevalence of iguanas in the region.

“It's not something that we grew up with, when we were younger,” Dickenson said. “They weren't here, so it wasn't something we were taught to think about.”

Today, Dickenson is a professional iguana trapper and owns Method Iguana Services in Pompano Beach.As such, he has been trained to deal with a problem that has grown to epidemic proportions over the past 80 years.

Green iguanas, which are not native to Florida, are believed to have been introduced to the area in the 1960s when people released or abandoned their small pets as they became too large or difficult to maintain.

Thanks to Florida's warm, humid climate — and a lack of natural predators — iguanas found the environment welcoming. Over decades, they became firmly established in human-modified habitats throughout South Florida.

Population estimates — while uncertain — indicate there may be as many as 1 million iguanas in the state. And densities as high as about 240 iguanas per square mile have been cited in certain managed natural areas in South Florida.

Suffice it to say that the huge numbers of iguanas present a problem for pool owners for many reasons.

As noted, their feces carry salmonella. If they defecate near or inside pools, decks, patios, or play areas — or if they bite — families may be exposed.

In addition to disease, there have been reported incidents of iguanas “taking over” pools or school-pools — defecating on pool decks, in water, on bleachers, and in surrounding areas — forcing closures.

In December 2024, the Lake Worth High School swimming pool in Palm Beach County was shut down “indefinitely” after dozens of invasive iguanas roamed the deck, bleachers, and pool area — leaving behind heavy amounts of feces and “contaminants” that the existing filtration and chemical systems could not handle. School-district and health-official statements cited “environmental contaminants” (attributed to iguanas) as the reason for the closure. The impact extended beyond the pool itself: budgets rose, other publicworks (power infrastructure, levees, etc.) had to be reinforced due to iguana-related damage. As of mid-2025, the old pool was being demolished, marking the end of a decades-long community resource.

Property damage from iguana infestations can be a lot because iguanas dig burrows that erode soil under sidewalks, seawalls, canal banks, and water-control structures.

The iguana infestation at Lake Worth triggered more than just a pool closure. According to city officials, they've spent more than $100,000 on “iguana prevention infrastructure” — fences, climb-resistant barriers, and other deterrents. Lake Worth iguanas also caused power outages (by climbing poles or damaging equipment), and even undermined levees, seawalls, and canal banks — creating risks to the structural integrity of public infrastructure.

They’re also prolific: during breeding season, a female iguana can lay many eggs, raising the risk of rapidly growing local infestations.

In April 2024, a female iguana was removed from a resort pool in Miami after workers discovered it stuck in a water-slide jet. As described by the removal expert, “Upon our arrival … the iguana escaped, leaving behind 30 eggs in the swimming pool.” Reports note that “female iguanas can lay up to 70 eggs annually, leading to potential infestations.” Officials warned that iguanas in such situations present health risks — they can carry 'ticks, mites, and salmonella.'

This was more than a simple “lizard in the pool” moment — it was a literal iguana maternity ward in a resort amenity.

Because of the damage that these non-native reptiles do, iguanas are not protected under conservation laws: on private property, iguanas may legally be humanely removed or killed. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission encourages homeowners to take action to “resolve wildlife conflict” if iguanas are causing damage.

In fact, recent rule changes (2025) have clarified procedures for collection, transport, and disposal of wild-caught iguanas — making it relatively easy for licensed removal professionals to help if the homeowner doesn’t want to handle it personally.

So for Florida residents: if you have iguanas on your properties — especially near pools — you are within your rights to remove them humanely (or have a professional do so), and to take other preventative actions. What should pool professionals do about iguanas in South Florida:

• Treat iguana droppings and sightings near your clients’ pool seriously — especially if they have kids or pets. Tell parents to avoid letting children swim or play near contaminated water or surfaces.

• If you see iguanas around pools or yards, tell homeowners to consider contacting a licensed removal service or wildlife-control professional. (This is legal and often encouraged under current Florida rules.)

• Tell homeowners to minimize attractants — plants, trees, shrubs — that might lure iguanas; seal burrowing holes; keep pool covers on when not in use; and clean pool decks regularly.

• Be aware: iguanas are more than “just a lizard problem.” They can carry disease, cause property damage, and multiply fast.