Chomp

When a frozen iguana falls from a tree onto Mickey Cray’s head, he suffers a concussion. Doctors order him to take time off from his work as an animal wrangler. His son, Wahoo, takes over the care of their backyard menagerie which includes “gators, snakes, parrots…and even a bald eagle” (2). With Mickey out of work and the family finances stretched thin, his wife, a Mandarin instructor, takes a job in China. Mickey protests, but the following Sunday, she leaves. Later that day, Wahoo accepts a job offer. Mickey argues that he still can’t “see straight,” but Wahoo confidently suggests that they do the job as a team.

Iguanas are not native to Florida; they were first introduced when animal collectors who found themselves unable to care for the adult lizards set them loose in public parks. When a cold snap sets in, hundreds die. Now, months after Mickey’s accident, Wahoo and Mickey discuss their new client—Derek Badger, the host of the reality show Expedition Survival!

Badger pretends to survive in the wild, but, in fact, the situations are all staged. Later that day, Raven Stark, Badger’s production assistant, shows up with a contract. When Wahoo gives her a tour of the property, she expresses interest in the alligator,