The right method comes out of the property, not a preference. If you've got one iguana you can see — on the roof, in a pool cage, basking on the deck — that's a job for direct capture with a pole or net, and often a single visit. If the pressure is spread out, comes and goes, and you can't be there to catch it, that's what trapping is for: it works the routes when nobody's watching.
A quick way to think about it
Most decisions sort neatly by the situation in front of you:
- One visible animal, right now → direct capture with a pole or net
- Animals that come and go when you're not around → a trap line on the routes
- Burrows on the bank or foundation → collapse and backfill, always
- Canal, lake, or seawall frontage → a monitored program, because the water resupplies
- Repellents and ultrasonic gadgets → skip them; they don't clear or exclude iguanas
The bigger fork is water
A property with no canal and a small resident group is usually a one-time clear-out. A canal, lake, or seawall lot keeps getting resupplied from the water no matter how well you clear it once, and that's when a monitored program is the honest recommendation.
In reality most jobs blend methods — direct capture for what's visible, traps for the rest, burrow collapse to stop nesting — and the walk-through is what tells me the mix. You don't pick one tool and commit; you match the mix to what the property actually has.
Common questions
How do I know if I need a program or a one-time visit?
It mostly comes down to water — a small problem off the canal is usually a one-time job, while waterfront that keeps getting resupplied needs a program. The property walk settles which one you are.
Is one method enough?
Rarely — most jobs blend direct capture, trapping, and burrow collapse because each covers a different situation. Matching the mix to the property is the whole skill, not committing to a single tool.
Should I bother with sprays or ultrasonic devices first?
I wouldn't. Repellent sprays wear off with rain and sun, and ultrasonic gadgets don't work on reptiles at all. That money goes further on removal, burrow collapse, and physical exclusion, which actually change the property.
