Iguanas scary problem in the Florida Keys

KEY WEST, Fla., Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Iguanas have reportedly become a problem in the Florida Keys, with the area's subtropical climate perfect for an iguana population explosion.

The Keys' non-native reptile population growth is blamed on local pet stores and former lizard owners who abandon the animals after they grow from cute 6-inchers into scary looking adults of often more than six feet long, the Miami Herald reported Tuesday.

From Key Largo to Key West, traffic backups are commonplace as iguanas slowly cross U.S. Highway 1.

The reptiles have voracious appetites, rapidly producing new offspring and making dinosaur-like dashes on raised legs when confronted by humans, the Herald said.

Monroe County Commissioner George Neugent said one suggestion is to freeze the cold-blooded animals, but he noted it might be rather tricky getting them into a freezer.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Becky Herrin was quick to note Florida law allows iguanas to be killed, but requires it to be done without cruelty and without the animal suffering.

As for detailing what legal methods might be used, Herrin told the newspaper, "I'm not going to tell people how they can do it."