Lake Worth High School Pool

Iguanas share blame for closure of Lake Worth High swimming pool

‘No one took care of it. To let it go like that is a shame.’

FOR ABOUT 60 YEARS, Lake Worth Community High School’s swimming pool provided training waters for thousands of people — from beginners taking lessons to student athletes setting speed records to seniors relaxing with water aerobics.

These days, the pool's only users are iguanas.

The invasive tropical lizards, known to cause power outages in Lake Worth Beach, are sharing blame for the Palm Beach County School District’s recent decision to “indefinitely” close the city high school swimming pool.

“In collaboration with the Department of Health, the School District of Palm Beach County has closed the pool at Lake Worth Community High School indefinitely to ensure the safety of students and the community. Outdated equipment and environmental contaminants have compromised the pool's water quality and safety,’’ a district spokesperson said Friday in an email to ByJoeCapozzi.com.

Read the article... and see the photos of the iguana take-over.

I was a kid, one of hundreds, who raised money to build the pool. We sold magazine subscriptions and did all that we could to help the school. "In 2002, it was named the Dennis F. Dorsey Swim Complex, in honor of the former Lake Worth mayor and Lake Worth High swimming alum who poured money in the school’s swim program over the years," my late brother-in-law.

Iguana causes power outage in Lake Worth Beach

Iguana causes 'large-scale' power outage in Lake Worth Beach

City says Lake Worth Beach Electric Utility restores power in about 35 minutes

"Iguanas can cause all kinds of problems in South Florida — including causing power outages.

The city of Lake Worth Beach tweeted late Wednesday morning that there was a large-scale outage caused by an iguana. The issue occurred at the city's Sixth Avenue substation.

According to city spokesman Ben Kerr, the outage affected 1,431 customers yesterday in the South East area of their service area." [WPTV]

Lake Worth Beach @LakeWorthBchPBC
LWB Electric Utility is currently responding to a large scale outage caused by an iguana at our 6th Ave Substation. This outage is effecting customers in the South East area of our service territory. Our teams are working hard to repair the damage and restore the system.

Shooting Iquanas on private property in Lake Worth Beach

Iguana trappers shooting into yards in Lake Worth Beach neighborhood, upsetting residents

FWC says iguanas not protected in Florida, except by anti-cruelty law

LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla. — Some residents in Lake Worth Beach are not feeling safe after they said iguana trappers are shooting into yards.

Melanie Valentine said her Lake Worth Beach neighborhood is "iguana central."

Read about it at WPTV... She asked them to stop shooting into her yard and received "nasty" retorts.

Those described here are not really "trappers" but basically killers. Florida law prohibits the relocation, sale, or transfer of iguanas, but it does allow for humane euthanization.

Except for anti-cruelty laws, all non-native reptile species, such as the green iguana, are not protected in Florida, except when legally killed on private property with landowner permission. In this case, they did NOT have permission. This species is legal to capture and kill year-round on 25 public lands in south Florida without the use of a permit or hunting license.

Cruelty to an animal gets this Lake Worth creep a 9 month jail sentence

Man who killed iguana, claimed 'Stand your Ground,' reaches plea deal

These are the inhumane creeps living among us

This creep, PJ Nilaja Patterson, 43, pleaded guilty to cruelty to an animal and will spend nine months in jail.

You will not believe what he did with this iguana that he brought to the Cultural Plaza!

Read about this atrocious act of cruelty He had better not be released on some good behavior woke BS.

Baby Iguana affected by our cold weather

Just found this guy on our lawn--At first I thought it was a Cuban Anole but decided it was a young Iguana.

Dead to the touch but "these cold-blooded reptiles go into a deep sleep when the temperature falls into the 40s Fahrenheit.. Their bodies turn gray, and they lose their grip, experts say." He has about 15 more minutes of sun in this spot.  Not good for his survival as tonight it will be in the 30's.

Hopefully, this little guy will awaken.

Recent attractions at Lake Osborne

Comment Up

There is a mystery creature here in the 3rd frame.

Please help identify it.

Photos by one of my neighbors

Baby Iguana?

Comment Up

I couldn't see him at all but did see something move so I took the shot.

 There he was, looking at me!

UPDATE: Someone just set me straight. The animal is a Cuban Anole.