Iguanas den and nest in burrows dug into soft ground — canal banks, seawall backfill, and beds against foundations, driveways, and pool decks. A burrow is more than a hole; the tunnels can run several feet and branch, and a single female's nest chamber can hold dozens of eggs. Removing the animals but leaving the burrows open is doing half the job, because the tunnels stay as prime, move-in-ready real estate for the next iguana that comes along.
Collapse and backfill means locating the burrow, confirming nothing is inside, then breaking down the full length of the tunnel and packing it with compacted fill so it's no longer a usable den or a void under your hardscape. Done properly it removes both the shelter and the erosion pathway in one step — which is why it's a core part of prevention rather than an afterthought.
Why timing matters
Females nest in spring, so collapsing burrows before and during nesting season keeps clutches from hatching under your seawall or deck. That timing is the difference between dealing with a couple of adults and dealing with a colony a few months later. A single missed nest can put dozens of hatchlings into your landscaping in one season.
Where burrows do the most harm
Not every burrow is equally urgent. The ones we prioritize are the ones undermining something structural or expensive, because those turn a wildlife nuisance into a repair bill.
- Behind and under seawalls, where they hollow out backfill and crack the cap
- Under pool decks, patios, and driveways, where voids lead to settling and cracking
- Against home foundations and A/C pads
- Along canal and lake banks, where they accelerate erosion and slumping
Common questions
Can't I just fill the hole with dirt myself?
You can, but a loose scoop of soil at the entrance gets re-dug in a day. The point is confirming the burrow is empty, collapsing the whole tunnel rather than just plugging the mouth, and compacting the fill so it actually stays closed and doesn't leave a soft spot the animal reopens.
What if there are eggs in the burrow?
That's exactly why we check before we backfill. Sealing a live clutch in to hatch under your deck is both inhumane and self-defeating — you'd have hatchlings tunneling out weeks later. Handling active nests is part of doing removal properly.
How do you know how far the tunnel runs?
Experience and inspection. Burrows often branch and can run surprisingly far from the visible entrance, so we work the whole tunnel rather than assuming the hole you can see is the extent of it. That's what makes the backfill hold instead of collapsing into a new void later.
