The Sand Dragons of Marco

Every car was frozen in place and no one knew what to do. A bright green iguana with a large spiky fin on its back was stretching across Winterberry Drive and blocking traffic in both directions. The reluctant reptile seemed confused by the stopped traffic but did not appear to be overly concerned that his hiatus in crossing the road had upset human schedules. Finally, a young lady who was first in line in the on-coming traffic sounded her horn and the object of everyone’s concern waddled off the pavement. As two of the Marco Beach Boys sat and stared at this unusual pedestrian phenomenon - without the foresight to sound our horn - we could not believe how big this invader to Marco Island truly was. He or she was at least five feet long with the tail, and able to straddle the middle of the busy thoroughfare and big enough to offer Jurassic Park intimidation for at least ten other drivers.

A few weeks after the traffic-stopping incident, another iguana of about the same size was lurking on the top of a seawall in old Marco. The sighting did not last long as the cold-blooded creature was soon racing away from a homeowner and her playful Labrador retriever.

An even larger iguana cousin on the beach at Keewaydin Island seemed to have understood that size does matter when it suddenly appeared at the top of a sand berm and began to stare down a boatload of visitors who were walking the beach. This imposing creature did not appear intimidated by our staring gaggle of humans. When it quickly began to advance away from its lair of sea grapes and sea oats and out onto the open sand, every human scattered as if a dinosaur from the Jurassic age suddenly slipped through a time warp and dropped into the south Florida twenty-first century.

This intimidating version of the big lizards was darker in color than the reptilian pedestrian on Winterberry, and when it stopped to return our stares, everyone could see this creature carried black rings on its lengthy tail and diamond shaped markings on either side of the spiky fin on its back. After our initial retreat, we began to approach this beach going Sand Dragon for a closer look and were surprised and a little alarmed that seven adult humans had little effect on this very large iguana. This reptilian character did not retreat into the dune grass but turned to face our advance with a steadfast determination as if to defend a specific territory and this was an act of defiance that was not lost on any of the explorers in our party. After giving way to this prehistoric-looking character of Keewaydin, the research that follows is even more menacing.

In central and south Florida, scientists estimate the iguana population is well over one million. There are so many calls to remove the salmonella-carrying creatures that many authorities are just saying, “be careful but deal with them.”

To make things even more alarming is the fact that feral iguanas bite, scratch, and will use their long tails as a powerful cutting whip if cornered or trapped. The droppings from iguanas carry the poisonous bacteria salmonella, which has proven deadly to many unsuspecting owners of tame iguana pets. If someone should come in physical contact with one of these South or Central American invaders, it is vital that any contact area should be washed two times with antibacterial soap and hot water.

One reason that the three main species of iguana are thriving in Florida is the subtropical climate and the abundant food sources of landscaping plants. Favorite food sources are flower beds with impatiens, caladiums, and hibiscus being tasty items on the rapidly reproducing egg layer’s diet.

Because of the better-quality food sources in Florida, a super breed of the Mexican cousin has been reported to grow to over six feet in length and have a much better survival rate because of superior egg production. Not only are the eggs stronger and more likely to hatch earlier, with stronger and faster juveniles, but the young adults are more adept at using salt or fresh water as a medium of escape. Even though birds-of-prey sometimes target hatchling iguanas, it is very rare for the one of the fastest lizards on record to be caught and eaten. Another amazing fact is that iguanas have an underdeveloped third eye on top of their heads, which can detect the shadow of an attacking air-born predator and give the super iguana an ever more favored chance of survival.

Apparently the three types of iguanas in our area are the: Green Iguana, the Black Spiny Tailed Iguana, aka the Keewaydin Sand Dragon, and the Mexican Spiny Tail that looks like something out of the Jurassic World.

According to official reports, most first-time iguana sightings are interesting and fun, but remember these exotic invaders do carry the very harmful salmonella bacteria and do have the potential to bite, scratch, and whip with powerful tails. Do not try to corner an iguana, and if you should find an exotic visitor around your landscaping or plants, iguana removal services are available.

Mother Nature does however have a way with dealing with the invasive iguanas in south Florida. Over the years, typically during the weeks between early January and Valentine’s Day, frosty temperatures can creep down the peninsula and catch the Sand Dragons of Marco Goodland, and Isles of Capri unaware. When the temperature drops overnight into the upper thirties, the iguanas that perch in the trees overnight fall with the temperature onto the ground and appear to be in a state of suspended animation. The creatures seem to be dead and even frozen but when the south Florida sun rises…and shines its magic…most of the Marco Sand Dragons return to life.

Tom Williams is a Marco Islander and the author of two books: “Lost and Found” and “Surrounded by Thunder—the Story of Darrell Loan and the Rocket Men.” Both books are available on Kindle and Nook.