A crumbled brick wall at the corner of Cape Coral Parkway East and Del Prado Boulevard has sparked concern among residents, but not for reasons you might expect.
Locals aren’t blaming storms or vandals—they’re pointing to an infestation of invasive green iguanas that have overrun the abandoned building on the busy intersection.
The structure, a former bank, partially collapsed overnight, leaving rubble scattered on the ground.
Longtime resident Karin Colley lives next door and has been watching the problem grow—literally.
“I'll be walking my dogs, walking with friends, family, and all of a sudden they just scurry—like a scene from Jurassic Park , where all the dinosaurs are running,” she said.
Colley estimates she’s seen over 40 iguanas in a single day near the property. She’s even caught them sunbathing on the rooftop and climbing the walls of the building.
“It’s like a tourist attraction,” she said. “People from out of town want to come and see these iguanas. They drive around, get out of their cars, take pictures and video.”
Her husband, Gary Colley, says the iguanas have even started invading their backyard. “They scare the dogs sometimes,” he said.
The Colleys believe the reptiles have burrowed behind the structure’s exterior wall, weakening it until it finally gave way.
“I noticed last week there were about 30 iguanas behind that brick wall,” Karin said.
While experts agree that the reptiles may not have directly caused the collapse, they acknowledge the animals are contributing to structural issues.
“The idea that iguanas yanked down a wall is ludicrous,” said Ned Bruha of The Wildlife Whisperer Inc. “But have they contributed to issues on that property? Absolutely. And are they likely going to end up harming the neighbors and the neighborhood? Absolutely.”
The community is now calling on the city to intervene before the situation escalates further. With weakened structures and a growing iguana population, residents worry it’s only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured.
“We’ve been raising the alarm for a while now,” said Karin Colley. “This is not just a nuisance anymore. It’s dangerous.”
DOWNLOAD
the free
Gulf Coast News app
for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more.