J Wells

I know this is an old post but I finally did it....

I officially have a taste for Green Iguana! More importantly, I have eaten the lizard and Im still well enough to update this post.

So, I first collected some poor man's pepper grass, Spanish needle, mustard greens and Ethiopian kale (complete with aphids) and boiled them as a side dish (sauteed would have been much better).


Next, cleaned the tail and limbs outside at my wife's "request", and then par boiled them to make the skin easy to remove.



Boiling..


I then removed the skin by hand, which had become very frail after the boiling. I then made a quick marinade of olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper and fresh rosemary.


After a few minutes, into the frying pan. I added some more oil to the pan.


Not the best pic, but here was the final product. I intentionally overcooked it to play it safe...


I took it all outside to enjoy on the patio. And...


Really tasty! I just wish I had gotten a bigger iguana! The reports of a chicken/crab taste were right on. Highly recommended!

Maybe ill try the cinnamon and the pepper methods. They've eaten all my citronella plants already...

Thanks for the suggestion.

Joe Moore wrote:. Would a mature food forest in the keys be able to block (store) enough sun to keep the critters from basking in the garden /eating your goods?

Joe,
Although I see your point, I doubt it. In Panama where I used to live, the iguanas were known as "gallinas de palos" or chickens of the trees. I rarely saw them on the ground while I was there so your idea makes sense in their natural range. However, in Florida where there are few natural enemies to mature lizards, iguanas will roost in the trees at night, but then descend to the ground to bask/feed. They're not afraid of much. Even if I could keep them regulated to the canopy, they're known to eat mangoes, sugar apples, and basically all of the various tropical fruits that my trees produce.

The only other option I see to culling is to utilize a guard dog. Anyone know any reputable iguana-hound breeders?

Thanks for the link. $14/lb?! Maybe Im in the wrong business!

I think culling for the meat might be the only viable option at this point. Ive just found several baby iggies in and around my unfinished hugel bed, which is perfect nesting area. As my permie garden matures, Im finding more and more of them. I guess i should be happy that im creating good habitat! Unfortunately, because the iggies are an innvasive species, finding a natural balance with them doesnt seem likely.

Im surprised that more tropical permies havent posted about similar issues. As a herpetologist I hate do it, but Im thinking an air rifle is in order.

Hi everyone,
Is anyone else having issues with these invasive dinosaurs?!?! Im in the Florida Keys and Im able to deal with the heat, salt, poor soil and hurricanes, but these things are decimating almost everything thats not a fruit tree. I have a bunch of seedlings of different veggies and herbs that are itching to get into the ground, but Im reluctant to lose another large group of plants. They've even been marauding my aquaponic beds!

I dont know of any deterants or repellent plants, and they dont have any natural enemies as adults down here. Before i turn to an air riffle and try iguana soup for the first time, I thought I'd check with y'all.

Thanks in advance!

Nice selection. They should do well for you.

Chaya is a perennial shrub that does well in South Florida and in southern central fl. Also known as Tree Spinach.

http://www.goodfoodworld.com/2012/03/chaya-mayan-tree-spinach-cabbage-star/

Wow, David. Really impressive! Im so glad I found this thread.

Im in zone 10a (or 10b, not really sure) in the Keys and Im always looking for other people's experiences with this type of project in our type of climate.

What types of avocados do you have going on? I considered the low chill peach as well, but I dont think I'll get the chill hours for it to fruit. Instead I have more tropicals, sugar apples, sour sop, moringa and mangos. You might want to consider chaya as well.

Anyway, nice work and good luck!