Iguana Damage Photo Gallery: Identify What You Are Seeing on Your Property
Not every homeowner knows what iguana damage looks like until they are standing in front of it. This page is a visual identification guide organized by damage type. Use it to match what you are seeing on your property to documented examples of what an active iguana problem actually looks like — burrows, shoreline disturbance, plant feeding, droppings, and hardscape damage.
If something on your property matches what you see here, it is worth taking seriously. Iguana damage is rarely isolated. One visible clue usually means more activity is happening nearby.
Burrow Openings and Fresh Digging
Burrows are one of the most reliable signs that iguanas are using the property regularly, not just passing through. A fresh burrow entrance typically has loose, recently displaced soil at the opening and may have disturbed mulch around the perimeter. The entrance hole is rarely the full extent — the tunnel behind it can extend several feet. See the full guide to identifying iguana burrows for what to look for.
- Round or oval opening, typically 3–6 inches across
- Fresh loose soil piled or scattered at the entrance
- Smooth walls inside the visible tunnel opening
- Multiple holes in the same area or along the same edge
- Repeated new digging beside older, collapsed openings
Canal Bank and Shoreline Holes
Canal-front and waterfront properties throughout Palm Beach and Broward Counties see this most often. Shoreline digging is a higher-stakes version of a standard burrow because of its proximity to water-containment infrastructure. UF/IFAS specifically flags iguana burrows along canal and levee banks as a risk to seawall integrity and erosion. See why iguanas and canal systems are closely connected.
- Holes along the upper edge of a canal bank
- Disturbed or soft-looking ground near the waterline
- Burrows at the base or top of a seawall
- Loose, eroded soil sections along shoreline edges
- Multiple openings in the same bank section
Seawall and Infrastructure Disturbance
Seawall-adjacent damage often does not look like wall breakage. It looks like compromised soil — holes beside the structure, soft ground behind it, or erosion-prone edges near the base. The wall itself may look intact while the ground around it has been repeatedly excavated. See how iguanas damage roads, seawalls, and canal banks for documented risk factors.
- Holes near the top or base of the seawall
- Soft or sunken ground directly behind the structure
- Visible burrow openings in the seawall-adjacent soil
- Eroded sections at the shoreline-to-wall transition
- Repeated disturbance in the same structural zone
Plant and Landscaping Feeding Damage
Feeding damage is usually the first thing owners notice. Iguanas browse ornamental plants, flowers, shrubs, and fresh growth — and they return to the same plants repeatedly. FWC notes that green iguanas damage residential and commercial landscape vegetation. Replacing damaged plants without addressing the underlying iguana activity rarely works. See what iguanas eat and why they target specific plants.
- Leaves partially or completely stripped
- Flowers missing or chewed at the stem
- Fresh new growth repeatedly eaten down
- Ragged edges on ornamental shrubs
- Entire small plantings flattened or destroyed
Droppings on Human-Use Surfaces
Droppings are a direct repeat-use indicator. FWC notes green iguanas leave droppings on docks, seawalls, porches, decks, pool platforms, and sometimes in swimming pools. Droppings in the same location repeatedly means the animal is using that surface as part of its routine. On HOA properties, droppings on shared surfaces become a sanitation and resident-complaint issue fast. See what diseases iguanas can carry through droppings.
- Dark elongated droppings with a white urate tip
- Concentrated in the same spots on docks, decks, or seawalls
- Below regular basking areas — look up for the source
- Near pool edges, boat cleats, or dock railings
- Staining on tile, pavers, or painted surfaces from repeat contamination
Hardscape, Walkway, and Patio Damage
Digging near built surfaces is a different category of concern than a hole in open landscaping. FWC and UF/IFAS associate iguana burrowing with damage to sidewalks and foundations because repeated excavation can undermine supporting soil. A hole beside a paver, pool deck edge, or retaining wall is worth inspecting more carefully than the same hole in an open yard.
- Openings beside or under paving edges
- Soft, slightly sunken ground near hardscape borders
- Soil displacement near retaining walls or planter edges
- Burrow entrances under pool deck overhangs
- Repeated disturbance at the same landscaping-to-paving transition
HOA and Community Common-Area Patterns
On HOA and condo properties, damage tends to appear across multiple zones rather than in one spot. The same shoreline, the same landscaped bed, the same pool-deck corner, and the same section of community path all showing signs at once is the typical pattern. See iguana control strategies for HOAs and community managers.
- Burrows scattered across shared shoreline areas
- Droppings concentrated near pool decks or clubhouse entries
- Multiple damaged plant beds in the same landscaped corridor
- Repeated holes in the same section of community canal bank
- Soft or eroded ground near shared seawall or lake edge
When Multiple Damage Types Appear Together
Burrows plus plant damage plus droppings in the same zone is not a coincidence — it means the property is supporting a full cycle of iguana use: basking, feeding, sheltering, and returning. Once the pattern stacks up like that, the visible damage is usually just the surface layer. See signs you have an established iguana problem to understand what the combination of clues usually means.
How to Use This Guide to Confirm What You Are Seeing on Your Property
If what you are seeing matches more than one damage category here — burrows near a seawall, feeding damage in the same bed, droppings on the same dock — the property is showing a full use pattern. Professional iguana removal gives the clearest assessment of what is actually happening and what kind of response fits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a hole is an iguana burrow?
Look for a round or oval opening with fresh loose soil at the entrance, typically 3–6 inches across. If the same spot keeps being re-excavated or if you see multiple holes in the same area, that is a strong sign of active iguana use. See the full burrow identification guide for more detail.
What does iguana plant damage look like?
Leaves stripped or partially chewed, flowers missing or bitten at the stem, and fresh new growth eaten down repeatedly. Iguanas tend to return to the same plants, so if the same spot keeps getting hit after cleanup, that points to an iguana rather than other wildlife.
Are iguana droppings a health concern?
Yes. Reptiles can carry Salmonella in their digestive tracts and contaminate surfaces they use. Droppings on pool decks, docks, and patios are a sanitation issue — not just a cleaning problem. Repeated droppings in the same location also signal that the area is being used regularly, not visited once.
Why does landscaping damage matter so much?
Because repeated feeding damage often means the property is functioning as a recurring food source, not just a one-time pass-through. Landscaping damage is usually the first visible sign — but it often signals burrowing, nesting, and shoreline use happening nearby that has not been noticed yet.
When should I call a professional after seeing this kind of damage?
You should call when the same damage keeps returning, the issue involves shoreline or structural areas, or your property is starting to show the same repeat-use patterns visible in a damage gallery — recurring burrows, ongoing plant damage, droppings in the same spots, and fresh digging in previously cleared areas.