Iguana vs. Woman/ Round 4
Tara A. Spears
When the sun comes up, it’s another round of the iguana challenge. The tropical lizard, Ctenosaura pectinata, commonly known as the black iguana or Mexican black spiny-tailed iguana, comes out of his lair in my flower bed and peers around the yard from the top of the fence. From behind the safety of the sliding door, I stare back. Silently, I open the door to let my short fur baby outside hoping that she will pee before noticing the lizard and the fight begin. You think I exaggerate? Here’s the story:
Originally I knew nothing about the species and I thought the iguanas were exotic. I enjoyed seeing them sunbathing or chomping flowers. But those were the beautiful green iguanas, a different species from the black iguanas that I have at my house in Guayabitos. I educated myself about iguanas after the first week that I lived in this house,
I was shocked to see a monster dinosaur- size animal on my cement block wall! I grabbed my little dog and ran into the house. Instantly I thought of a crocodile because it was more than 4 foot long and much wider than the cement block wall. But, since I don’t live near water, I realized it must be an iguana. Doing research, yes, the Mexican Black Spiny-tailed Iguana DOES grow to 4.5 feet long in the wild. WOW, that is one huge lizard! I was the giant black lizard for about 6 months as he patrolled the property- I guess he relocated to another lot. I stopped seeing the patriarch but there have been lots of iguana family living here ever since.
Looking at the photo of the iguana with its mouth open, you think, no teeth. That is incorrect.
The black iguanas have 100 teeth below their gum line- how else would they be able to chop down shrub branches, leaves and flowers? That being said, can an iguana hurt you-or a dog- the answer is yes, the iguana can draw blood and injure you. Even more concerning, is that the Mexican black spiny-tailed iguana is toxic to dogs, as I found out when my little guy was bitten by an iguana. The dog required antibiotic shot plus ten days of meds. Unfortunately, he was so weakened by the wound and infection, he died shortly afterwards. RIP sweet Topo!
My current fur baby is not a hunting breed but she likes to protect her yard by chasing iguanas. Just a couple of days ago, I’m in the pool and my fur baby is relaxing in the shade on the patio. An iguana climbs down the wall and stands three meters away chopping hibiscus from the ground. The dog rushes to the plant, expecting the lizard to run- nope, the damn thing faces her and attacks! My baby had no idea what to do when the iguana charged, so I had to grab her before she was bitten. Now you can understand why I worry before letting my little one out into the yard.
I always heave a sigh of relief if I survive another iguana rut season, which in Jaltemba Bay is the month of April. Black spiny-tailed iguanas are social and territorial animals that live in colonies. The spiny-tailed black iguana is a large, bulky iguana with the males having a different appearance than the females. They are active during the day. The iguana is an excellent climbers, and prefer rocky areas with plenty of crevices to hide in, rocks/cement to bask on, and nearby trees to climb. They are fast-moving creatures that employ their speed to escape predators but will lash out with their tails and bite if cornered, or just in a territorial mood. Another caution is that iguanas are good swimmers and will go into swimming pools, even if you’re already in it.
These prehistoric reptiles make great photos, but they are a nuisance to live with because they decimate plants, are aggressive and will come into your house. I’ve gone 14 years of territorial battle and I lose. As long as the iguanas don’t hurt the dog, I’m ok letting them win. Presently I have 5 resident blacks and one green iguana but that’s only the mature ones. Since they have up to 30 eggs each mating season, there are many more in the neighborhood. Another day of the iguanas.
