CAPSTONE PROJECT
Disposition Constraints and Welfare Risk for Invasive Reptiles in Florida
How do legal, operational, and capacity limits shape care options and welfare risks for invasive reptiles in Florida’s animal-care systems?
Green iguana photographed in Florida.
Project overview
This capstone examined how Florida's regulatory framework influences the disposition of invasive and regulated reptiles. The project combined regulatory review, disposition pathway mapping, expert interviews, welfare analysis, and policy recommendations to identify opportunities for improving animal welfare within the existing system.
Methods & ethics
The study integrated regulatory analysis, literature review, disposition pathway development, welfare assessment, and subject matter expert interviews. It did not involve live-animal procedures or human subjects research requiring IRB or IACUC review.
Why this matters
Disposition decisions determine whether reptiles remain in temporary custody, are transferred, undergo humane killing, or reach another lawful outcome. Those decisions influence housing requirements, handling, veterinary oversight, staff safety, and welfare, making them important considerations for shelters, wildlife agencies, veterinarians, and conservation programs.
Two disposition pathways
The project identified two operational pathways. The custody-based pathway follows reptiles entering care through surrender, confiscation, seizure, or enforcement. The field-based pathway follows reptiles encountered in the wild. Each pathway involves different legal authorities, operational decisions, and welfare risks.
Key findings
The project found that welfare outcomes depend on timely decision-making, facility capacity, lawful transfer options, veterinary involvement, standardized documentation, and communication between agencies. It also demonstrated that custody-based and field-based cases require different welfare safeguards because each presents distinct operational and regulatory challenges.