Transcript of a YouTube field segment in which hosts (including “The Python Cowboy” / Trapper Mike) hunt invasive iguanas in South Florida. The participants discuss the ecological and infrastructure damage caused by iguanas (burrows undermining canal levees, harm to burrowing owls and gopher tortoises), demonstrate removal/shooting techniques on canals and banks, and describe the outing as both recreational and conservation-oriented.
Chapters
Look at that throw that Boy got a throat on him, don't he?
I was lied to. We should start there.
Yeah, buddy.
What's going on, guys? Mike. Mike. We're out here in South Florida with my buddy Mike, AKA Trapper Mike, AKA Python, Cowboy, and we're gonna be shooting some Igu. Us any, right?
Absolutely, yeah. Yeah, They're. They're a big problem here in South Florida. I would say probably one of our worst invasives. They cost our state millions and millions every year with the burrows they dig, the vegetation they eat, and they also have negative effects on our native wildlife, specifically our threatened burrowing owls and gopher tortoise, some of which actually have some burrows and nests out here that we'll be actively protecting while we're removing these iguanas.
Now, they're also. They also mess up things like what, housing foundations, sidewalks, seawall, stuff like that.
Exactly. And that's what the boroughs, they dig. You know, they undermine all kind of different structures. But mainly what we're, you know, the state's worried about is these levee embankments of the canals we cruise. You know, water management is crucial for the state of Florida. Miami, Palm beach, and Fort Lauderdale would be underwater if not for it. So, you know, we really have to maintain the integrity of these canal systems. And the iguanas are constantly degrading them. So we're out here to shoot them and get them out of here.
You're not just shooting them to shoot them. We're out here for a purpose.
Absolutely.
That's it. I like it. I like it.
Sounds good. Get after it.
Let's get on it, shall we? Hell, yeah, boys.
All right, boys. These lizards, they could be low, they could be high in the trees on the bank. We've shot them 70, 80 foot up. We've shot them swimming across the canal. So keep them eyes peeled.
Okay? Last time I was on the boat, not quite the experience we were going for, but this. I'm liking it. I'm liking it a lot so far, you know. So after Mike explained to us how to use the firearm, I was like, you know, you do things your way, I'm gonna do things my way. And he said, you're gonna do things the proper way. But my muscle memory kicked in. So when I first held it up, I held it sideways. And he said, no, no, no, that's not how you do it. But little did he know, that's how I do it. So bow like 3, 4, 5 iguanas went right down sideways. But for the purposes of the Show I did it the proper way. Two of them, two of them.
Make it count.
I still don't see him yet.
He's a beast.
Be mad now.
Bring it here.
That is nuts.
Yo, we caught us. We caught us a gator, boys. Look at that throw. That boy got a throat on him. Don't he.
Come?
The throat goat.
Yo, that's not my nickname.
There it is.
Good dog. Bring him here. Nice work.
Oh, wow.
Big puppy.
So as we're cruising through these canals, I wasn't sure what the population exactly was. Was like if we were going to have to look for them, if they were just going to be everywhere, if they're going to be in trees, in the water, like, where they were going to be. And turns out they are everywhere. These things are everywhere. And it wasn't like you saw, like, one or two at a time. You saw, like, 2, 3, 6, 10, all at a time. And they're in big groups and scattering through the rocks and all kinds of stuff. And honestly, it's a really good time. But not only that, it's very important for the ecosystem down here. You know, these animals really wreak havoc on infrastructure. They destroy sea walls, housing foundations, all kinds of stuff. Sidewalks. And they multiply so much where it's like, it's almost impossible to control the population. So people like Mike are out here kind of doing their part to control the population. It's a lot of fun, and it was really cool to bring Mike into it and have him experience something new in the process.
Drink is so good, man. Where did you get Jamaican on, listen, man, that's energy. When I drink this, it turned me all types of ways. Jamaican. I was. I was white last week.
It is closed, motherfucker.
Your left eye.
Close it.
It is.
I'm looking at it. It's wide open.
Close it. Shut up.
But it's his tail which will break off.
We got.
It wasn't easy.
That's badass.
All right. You can see where he's broken his tail off before.
That's crazy.
That's his signature move.
So they actually. You got to kind of pull it off. But what they do is they start to kind of wiggle, and you'll. You'll feel it. Like, I could feel it starting to break right there, and then it just.
Pulls away and grows back.
It grows back. Oh, I've seen them where it grows back all deformed, and they got, like, five tails coming out. Call them mutant iguanas crazy. All right, Nice work, boys.
Oh.
Dude, these things are everywhere. Here, like we rode 2ft. There was one 2ft there, another in the tree. His cousin came. He brought his friends with him. His mom and them came. They was having a family reunion over here, a barbecue over here. And we broke the party up, taking him down left and right. Like iguanas didn't have a chance when they seen me and Mike rolling up. We should change the show to the adventures of Mike and Mike shooting iguanas and shit. What'd you think? Get back to me on that.
We were able to get some iguanas. We got some. Some pigeons. We got an invasive goose from Egypt. I don't know what it was called, but they're apparently wreaking havoc down here too. And we were able to take one out as well.
Mike, what'd you think?
Hey, I think you guys did awesome. We hammered them today.
We got us a good little haul. Good time out here on the water. Mike got us on the meet. Otto did his job, crushed it. We did some decent shooting. It was definitely a fun experience, man. A lot more action packed than I thought personally. Thank you again, man.
Absolutely.
Dude, this was awesome. This was awesome.
You guys. You guys did awesome.
Well, what you think?
This was dope.
Probably the best one yet.
I enjoyed it. But like this, if you hit me up and asked me to do this on the weekend, I would come do this with you. This was fun.
I had a blast, man. Mike did a great job getting us on the meet.
I was here with it.
Otto did a great job. Mike. Honestly, dude. First time shooting a gun.
Are you surprised? Guys, not going to lie.
Listen, man, I'm. I'm full of surprises.
So you had a good time?
This was a great time.
Now wait till you see what we got in store for tonight.
You guys think this was cool, man? Wait till you guys see the next episode. Stay tuned.
Catch me if you can.
If it does bite you, just kind of take it and we'll get it off of you. That's the main thing you want to keep in mind for tonight.
Main thing I need you to keep in mind for the night is not to let that bite me.
