The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is attempting to clarify a controversial statement that urged South Florida homeowners to kill green iguanas on their own property whenever possible.

Green iguanas are an invasive species in Florida and are booming in population. Wildlife officials say the lizards can damage infrastructure, spread salmonella and pose a risk to native animals and plants.

But in a Thursday news release , FWC Commissioner Rodney Barreto indicated that the agencys earlier directive about killing the reptiles may have come across as too extreme.

Unfortunately, the message has been conveyed that we are asking the public to just go out there and shoot them up, Barreto said. This is not what we are about; this is not the wild west. If you are not capable of safely removing iguanas from your property, please seek assistance from professionals who do this for a living.