Iguanas are not native to Florida, they have been imported as pets and over the years have established themselves into our environment.
Today I ran across one of the many large colonies that thrive around here.
They are beautiful and relatively harmless vegetarians with very few natural predators to help keep their numbers in check. So ... sometimes you can find hundreds of them all in one place.
Iguanas feed freely on vegetation which can become a nuisance to people growing fruits and vegetables I suppose. But today ... they were just an interesting subject for a photoshoot.
I don't want to leave out the part about my friend Mary Lou (photo above) agreeing to accompany me on this photoshoot against her will (well sort). Mary Lou is my best friend (unless you count David) anyway she and I go on many adventures together but I never ask her to join me on anything nature related, it's just not her thing.
Today was different, I asked her if she would come with me, told her what I wanted to photograph and she said "I'm not sure I can do it, what if I'm afraid?" I assured her they were harmless and off we went.
Judging by the shrieking squeal in her voice when we found what we were looking for, I can only say she must not have believed me when I told her how many of them we would see.
If this were a friendship test, she passed with flying colors. She helped me when I asked her to do something she would not have ordinarily wanted to do and she did it. Thanks Mary Lou, I owe you one.
No really all that pleased with the shots I ended up with, I will be visiting my scaly green friends again soon. Next time I plan to arrive bearing gifts ... maybe grapes, melon or a fresh spinach salad. We'll do lunch!
12 comments:
Coy they are lovely pictures ~ well done to your friend Mary Lou going with you on your photo shoot ~ Nice that you will visit them again bearing gifts look forward to seeing Mary Lou feeding them ~ I would love to come with you as well ~ Ally
Awwww.... the wonder and variety of living in Florida... Did I mention I came face to face... O.K. 5 feet from <g> a coyote the other afternoon? He just looked and me and trotted off <LOL> I LOVE living in the country... Well except for that whole trying to get the internet thing!
i have seen on tv how exotic animals have gotten loose in flordia at one (or more) of the airports where they come into the country illegally. you have some pretty strange critters there!
I think iguanas have a regal look about themselves. Maybe it is how they hold their heads. And that cute little waddle they have when they are running. LOL
Great pics.
Kathy
I'm a crappy friend because I wouldn't have gotten out of the car. They are too creepy!!! Eeeeekkkk. :-) ---Robbie
I came here to admire your nature photography. These are wonderful. What kind of camera are you using? Ever tried sending some of this pics to publishers? They're really good.
Dee
Hehehe,
Looks like Puerto Rico!
V
I like Iguanas....but I'm not so sure I'd like them as much in the wild. Props to Mary Lou!!
Nice shots, Coy.
Nancy
Someone stole our baby iguana off the porch yesterday--cage and all!! This is the one whose tail was just cut off a few days ago. The poor thing needs antibiotics!!
My kids are crushed, just crushed...
I love iguanas! I had one for a pet once -- it was like having a little green dog! They have so much personality although most people would never guess that. Great photos! Martha :-)
That last iguana looks a bit - muscular, doesn't it? Sort of beefy!
xoxo
Didn't Marlin Perkins get in trouble when he had rabbits available for the wolves to chase on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom? Aren't you doing the same thing with the fruit?
I love the one walking down the sidewalk. You should put a caption "I'm outa here!" Ha!
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