You Can Legally Kill Iguanas, But It's How You Do It That Counts

Killing iguanas IS legal in Florida, but it's how you do it that counts and a local man is learning that lesson.

As we've reported, surveillance video shows 43-year old PJ Patterson kicking and beating a 3-foot iguana in Lake Worth Beach last September.

Trapper Mike Kimmel with Martin County Trapping & Wildlife Rescue says that's NOT how you get rid of the invasive species.

"While yes we need to get them out of the ecosystem and almost always they do need to be euthanized, we need to go about that properly."

And Kimmel claims stories like this one are giving trappers a bad name.

"There's been a lot of talking in the trapping and removal community about us being almost under attack because of people removing iguanas inhumanely and it makes everybody look bad."

Patterson claims he was bitten by the reptile and was defending himself.

A judge says he can't use Florida's "Stand Your Ground" defense, so he faces up to five years for animal cruelty.

If you do take matter into your own hands, Kimmel says he uses an air rifle and you must have good aim, hitting the reptile in the head with one shot.

You also can't leave the iguana there when you're done. He suggests cooking it, claiming it tastes like frog legs.

They do call them "chicken of the trees" after all.

Click Here to check out Kimmel's hunts, including a number of large Burmese pythons in the Everglades.

Photo: Getty Images


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