Latest news with #FloridaFishandWildlifeCommission
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Can you catch iguanas in Florida then sell them? You can, here's how
While many who live in south Florida see iguanas as vermin, nuisance animals or even a tasty meal, others are interested in keeping them as pets or selling them. Catching and selling iguanas caught in the wild in Florida was illegal until recently. But last month, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) walked back a 2021 vote that prohibited capturing and selling the huge, invasive green lizards. Here's what to know about catching and selling iguanas in Florida… And what to know if you just want to catch and kill one legally. Yes, you can now catch and sell iguanas in Florida. But it wasn't always allowed. In 2021, the FWC implemented Prohibited Species rules, which heavily restricted people's ability to buy, sell or keep iguanas as pets. The rules were intended to reduce invasive iguana populations and protect native species, but it ended up having the opposite effect. Since then, the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) and some other special interest groups have been trying to reverse the Prohibited Species rules, which they successfully accomplished on May 21, when the FWC voted to change the rules it implemented in 2021 and allow Floridians to capture iguanas from the wild and sell them out-of-state. 'We have worked very hard with FWC to create rule changes which will allow more people to remove nonnative species,' USARK Florida President Elizabeth Wisneski said in a release. 'This will benefit Florida's environment and our small businesses.' USARK told the Fort Myers News-Press that while the rule change is a great start, there's still more work to be done and the FWC hasn't taken action on allowing the collection of eggs. 'FWC must reform caging regulations to make it economically feasible for businesses to be able to house iguanas,' Wisneski said. 'Addressing the threats of invasive species in Florida is a priority for the FWC, but we can't do it alone,' FWC Chair Rodney Barreto said. 'Approving these rule changes further empowers our stakeholders to get directly involved in removing green iguanas from the state, a win for Floridians and our native plants and wildlife.' Want to catch an iguana to sell? Florida's wildlife agency now says you can, what to know While some people are interested in capturing and selling iguanas or keeping them as pets, a lot of Floridians see iguanas as vermin that need to be "taken care of," or even as a tasty meal (see below). Iguanas are an invasive species in Florida, meaning they're not native to the state, and are only protected by anti-cruelty laws. They can be humanely killed on private property year-round with landowner permission, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Before you shoot at an iguana, though, check your local ordinances. There are some areas in Florida where you can't shoot a firearm unless you're at a licensed facility. And there is no place in the state where you can shoot a firearm in any public place or on the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, or street, according to state laws. In other words, if you see an iguana on the sidewalk, you can't shoot it there, unless you want to be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor. , this applies to: 'Any person who knowingly discharges a firearm in any public place or on the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, or street, who knowingly discharges any firearm over the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, or street or over any occupied premises, or who recklessly or negligently discharges a firearm outdoors on any property used primarily as the site of a dwelling…' It doesn't apply to: 'A person lawfully defending life or property or performing official duties requiring the discharge of a firearm or to a person discharging a firearm on public roads or properties expressly approved for hunting by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or Florida Forest Service.' It's legal to kill and eat iguanas, but it's illegal to import iguanas or iguana meat. What to know about wildlife, gun laws: Can you shoot a wild animal on your property in Florida? There are 32 FWC-managed public lands in south Florida, where you don't need a hunting license to kill iguanas, since they're highly invasive to that portion of the state. The public lands where you can kill as many iguanas as you'd like are the same areas where residents and hunters are encouraged to kill any pythons they see. 'If you are not capable of safely removing iguanas from your property, please seek assistance from a professional nuisance wildlife trapper,' the FWC's website says. 'A permit is required to possess live captured green iguanas for eradication and control purposes.' If you want to hunt iguanas for their meat or to just help out with controlling their presence in South Florida but don't know where to go, you can book a guided iguana hunt. There are only two rules to consider when hunting or killing iguanas: You must either have permission from the owner of the property where you found the iguana or be on one of the 32 FWC-managed public lands where eliminating iguanas is encouraged. You must kill the iguana or iguanas humanely. Regardless of the method you use, you must ensure the following two steps are completed to humanely kill a reptile: Step 1: Your method should result in the animal losing consciousness immediately. Step 2: You should then destroy the animal's brain by 'pithing' which prevents the animal from regaining consciousness. For more information visit the 2020 AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals. If you've gone out and killed an iguana without intent to eat it, don't toss the body in a road or waterway. You could be charged with a littering fine. Tossing a dead iguana in the trash could also cost you, depending on where you live. Some cities' waste management systems allow you to throw it in the trash if it is double-bagged, while others require residents to hire a private pickup service to get rid of the dead animal. Check what the rules are for your city before you toss a huge, dead lizard in the trash can. Yes! The iguana has been eaten in other countries for centuries. "People have been eating iguanas since at least 10,000 years ago, when humans reached the New World tropics. It was a readily available, not-too-dangerous food source. It's always been part of the diet," William Kern, a professor at the University of Florida, told USA TODAY back in 2020. Its meat is high in protein and low in fat. It's well-suited for tacos, burritos, curries, soups, stews, gumbo and more, according to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. 'The solution? Iguana stew,' the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wrote on its list. 'Their meat is often called 'chicken of the trees' for its mild flavor.' The FWC allows for the humane killing and consumption of iguanas in Florida, as they are considered an invasive species. Contributing: Amy Bennett Williams, Fort Myers News-Press This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Invasive iguanas caught in Florida can now be sold out-of-state
Axios
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
How new laws will reshape boating in Florida
Changes to Florida's boating laws are on the horizon. Why it matters: The Sunshine State is home to the most boats in the nation, with just over a million registered last year, and also sees the most accidents on the water: 685 in 2024. Pinellas ranks fourth in the state for boating accidents, with 42 reported last year. Six resulted in fatalities, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Dive in: DeSantis signed a handful of boating bills Monday, one of which he championed as the "Boater Freedom Act." The bill, SB 1388, requires officers to have probable cause to pull over boaters. SB 1388 also bars local governments from limiting the use or sale of boats based on their power source, such as gas-powered boats. HB 481 allows counties with more than 1.5 million people, like Miami-Dade and Hillsborough, to limit boats from anchoring overnight for more than 30 days in a six-month period. HB 735 directs the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to create and manage competitive grant programs for the construction and maintenance of boat ramps, piers, docks and more. What's next: The Legislature also sent DeSantis a bill, HB 289, that would raise penalties for leaving the scene of a boating crash that resulted in death, injuries or property damage. HB 289 sets a four-year minimum sentence for a boating under the influence (BUI) manslaughter conviction and makes it a second-degree misdemeanor to give a false statement to officers after a crash. The intrigue: Lawmakers had proposed expanding the state's boater education requirement to all operators as well as suspending driver licenses for BUI convictions, but neither made it to the final version.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DeSantis signs ‘Boater Freedom Act' in Panama City
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. DeSantis signed the 'Boater Freedom Act' in Panama City Monday morning. 'We take pride in our state of Florida being the best fishing and boating state in the United States of America, and honestly, it's not even close,' he said. The act will prevent local governments from regulating vessels based on fuel type and prevent unnecessary stops by law enforcement on the water. Before this bill was signed, Florida law allowed law enforcement to pull a boater over without probable cause or a suspected violation, which DeSantis said created undue friction between the boaters and law enforcement. The bill also provides more funding for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to use for additional boat ramps, parking and other marina programs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protests planned as FWC further considers implementing a black bear hunt this year
Next week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission will be discussing how - and if - it should reimplement a black bear hunt this year. FWC released an initial proposal on how to carry one out last month, which would allow for up to 187 bear kills in December. If allowed, it would be the first time a bear hunt has been allowed in Florida in ten years. As a result, bear activists across the state are planning to protest in across the state this weekend, including in Jacksonville. The proposal is sparking a huge debate among locals, considering there were recently two black bear sightings in our area, and a deadly bear attack in Collier County. In the previous hunt held in 2015, hunters were given a limit of 320 bears total. However, the hunt had to be stopped because hunters killed 304 bears in just two days. This year, the proposal is for a three-week hunt where hunters would only be allowed to hunt in designated Bear Hunting Zones. Permits will also be awarded through a lottery system, rather than being sold without restriction like they were in 2015. FWC started discussing bringing back a bear hunt in December 2024, well before the state's first-ever deadly bear attack earlier this month that killed an 89-year-old. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Supporters say a hunt could help better manage bear populations in residential areas. They also point to a voter-approved ballot measure in November that enshrined hunting and fishing rights in the state Constitution. 'It's bad for the state's image," said Adam Sugalski, executive director of the nonprofit One Protest. The protests this weekend are part of his nonprofit's Bear Defenders campaign. He says bear hunting in Florida is not necessary. 'People aren't really eating bears, we don't need fur rugs -It's trophy hunting. And bears are highly intelligent animals, some studies even place them as almost smart as great apes,' said Sugalski. 'And they're already having enough problems with overdevelopment in Florida." Next week's meeting will go over the proposed rules before a final vote is expected to be held in August. The Jacksonville protest this weekend will be held on Park Street in Riverside on Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm. St. Augustine will have a separate one at the same time on Cathedral Place. For information, locations, and times for each protest, click here. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Atlantic Beach investigating multiple reports of a coyote attacking people
The City of Atlantic Beach said they're investigating reports of a coyote biting a person Tuesday and another incident where a person was bitten Wednesday morning. A third person was attacked by a coyote Wednesday, but not bitten because a dog fended off the animal, the city posted on social media. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< 'The City of Atlantic Beach considers the reports to be credible,' the social media post states. The incidents occurred on or near Begonia Street. The city said it has reported the incidents to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. 'This is a serious situation. It's important for everyone in Atlantic Beach, especially in the Begonia Street area, to follow these guidelines carefully,' the post states listing the following instructions: [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] • Immediately report all coyote sightings and incidents to 911. Provide as much detail as possible about the location, time, and what you observed. This is especially important given the recent attacks. • Be extra vigilant and pay close attention to your surroundings, particularly during dawn and dusk. • Keep pets inside. • Secure all potential food sources: o Don't leave pet food or water outside. o Make sure garbage cans are tightly sealed. o Pick up any fallen fruit from trees in your yard. o Never feed wildlife. • Haze any coyotes you encounter to make them feel unwelcome: o Make loud noises like shouting, clapping, or banging pots. o Try to look bigger by waving your arms above your head. o Throw small objects in the coyote's direction. o Use noisemakers such as whistles or air horns. • Closely supervise children. • Check your property for potential coyote hiding spots, such as under porches or sheds, and consider trimming low-lying vegetation. • Do not approach or feed coyotes. This can make them lose their fear of people and become bolder. • Do not run from a coyote. Running might trigger its chase instinct. Instead, stand your ground and try to haze it. • Do not leave small children or pets unattended outdoors. • Do not assume coyotes are harmless. Even if they seem curious or playful, they are still wild animals and can be unpredictable. • Do not try to capture or handle a coyote yourself. Leave this to trained animal control professionals. Read: Child's e-bike crash in St. Johns County raises safety questions Read: 'Sacrificed his life for the children': Army veteran drowns saving relatives off Fernandina Beach Read: 24 travelers banned after massive fight breaks out at Carnival Cruise Line terminal Read: Motorcyclist killed in three-vehicle crash in Atlantic Beach [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
