In 2024, the first IguanaThon™ event was held, bringing state managers and the community together to search for this species. Four more were found, and the known range extended farther north. The event has grown into a celebration of desert wildlife, bringing multiple universities and people together. If you’re interested in getting caught up on information from this year’s survey, getting updates for upcoming events and presentations, or ordering a t-shirt to fund next year’s event, please sign up on our mailing list.
2025 IguanaThon™ was a huge success! More than double the animals were found compared to last year, including one farther north than any individual previously found! Many thanks to all the volunteers that helped us find these amazing lizards. Sign up on our mailing list to stay tuned for our research report and a schedule of other events.
IguanaThon™ is an annual event that brings scientists, wildlife managers, and the community together to assess a rare species in southern Utah.
History of IguanaThon™
In 2023, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources was relisting the desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) as locally extirpated, meaning that it no longer occurs in the State of Utah. Dr. Geoffrey Smith of Utah Tech and Dr. Megen Kepas (then State Herpetologist and now a professor at Utah Tech) coordinated a field trip with Utah Tech students, Dr. Randy Klabacka (then Utah Tech and now Brigham Young University), and Nathan Kelly (community member and Utah Tech alumni), in which they located Dipsosaurus dorsalis in Utah.
