PINELLAS COUNTY — Wildlife groups and state-aligned organizations across South Florida have begun aggressively marketing iguana removal efforts as “family-friendly memory-making experiences,” reframing invasive species control as a wholesome recreational opportunity while quietly shifting the cost, labor, and risk of the work onto residents.

Promotional materials invite families to board boats with professional guides and trained dogs to ethically harvest invasive iguanas—often branded as “canal dragons”—promising excitement, conservation impact, and memories that will last a lifetime.

What the marketing does not emphasize is that participants are paying for the experience, providing the labor, and absorbing the logistical burden of a statewide environmental problem.

“This isn’t just about conservation,” said one guide during a recent outing. “It’s about getting people involved.”

Involved, according to critics, now means covering fuel, equipment, time, and liability in exchange for the satisfaction of knowing the state didn’t have to staff or fund a large-scale removal program.

The language surrounding the hunts leans heavily on ethics, safety, and stewardship, while also highlighting how exciting and fun the experience can be. Brochures feature smiling families, upbeat copy, and assurances that every hunt makes a positive impact, even as the financial structure ensures the impact is largely felt by participants.

Residents say the pitch feels familiar.

“It sounds like something we’re supposed to be grateful for,” said one St. Pete homeowner. “Like, thank you for letting me handle this.”

Wildlife officials defend the approach, noting that similar strategies have been used for years during Florida’s annual python hunt, where residents are encouraged to remove invasive snakes for modest compensation that rarely offsets the cost of participation.

As with the python program, the emphasis is on civic pride and personal responsibility, rather than wages, infrastructure, or long-term state investment.

“We’re not forcing anyone to do this,” said one official. “We’re just offering an opportunity.”

That opportunity, residents note, involves doing difficult, sometimes unpleasant work under the banner of recreation, while the state benefits from reduced costs and improved optics.

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