April through September
If we had to name the worst stretch for iguanas in Palm Beach County, it's spring through the height of summer — roughly April into September. Spring brings the nesting surge, with females digging and laying. Then the summer heat drives peak adult activity, and by mid-to-late summer this year's clutches have hatched, so you're seeing juveniles scattered across the yard on top of the adults.
That's when the phone runs hottest, and it's when a property that was manageable in winter suddenly looks overrun.
Why it stacks up so fast
Two forces overlap in those months, which is why the jump feels sudden rather than gradual.
- Spring: females dig and lay clutches of 20–70 eggs
- Early summer: adults hit peak activity in the heat
- Mid-to-late summer: hatchlings emerge and spread across the property
- Waterfront lots feel all of it hardest, concentrated along the bank
Getting ahead of the worst months
The cooler months — December through February — are the quietest, and a hard cold snap can knock numbers down for a while, but that relief is temporary. The trap for homeowners is waiting until the summer peak to act, because by then you're managing a colony that already nested. Getting ahead of the worst months means clearing and collapsing burrows in late winter or early spring, before the nesting surge turns a few iguanas into dozens.
Common questions
What are the worst months for iguanas?
Roughly April through September — spring nesting followed by peak summer activity and the arrival of this year's hatchlings.
So when should I act to get ahead of it?
Late winter or early spring, before the nesting surge. Clearing and collapsing burrows then prevents the summer jump instead of chasing it.
Are the winter months really problem-free?
Quieter, not problem-free. Iguanas slow down and bask more, and a cold snap can knock them back, but they're still present and return with the warmth.
