Florida officials have issued advice for Florida residents encountering cold-stunned iguanas after the state faced plummeting temperatures this week.
Why It Matters
It comes after the Sunshine State saw record-breaking temperatures amid a widespread cold snap that has impacted swaths of the country.
What To Know
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) explains that when temperatures reach near freezing or lower, nonnative green iguanas and other reptiles may enter a state of torpor, temporarily losing muscle control. This can occasionally cause green iguanas to drop from trees or other vegetation, it says.
In a social media post, the FWC shared tips on what residents should and should not do if they encounter one of the cold-stunned lizards.
“Do not bring them inside, whether your house or your car. Iguanas can recover from torpor quickly, much faster than you’d think. Wild iguanas can be defensive when not able to escape, sometimes using their sharp teeth and nails, and long tails that whip,” it said.
“Don’t allow pets to interact with iguanas– whether cold-stunned or otherwise.
“Don’t relocate or release green iguanas (or any nonnative species – it’s illegal). Keep in mind that a permit is needed to possess live green iguanas, a Prohibited species in Florida,” the agency added.
According to the FWC, green iguanas were first reported in Florida during the 1960s in Hialeah, Coral Gables, and Key Biscayne along the southeastern coast of Miami-Dade County. Today, established populations are found along the Atlantic Coast in Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties, and along the Gulf Coast in Collier and Lee Counties, it says.
“There have also been reports as far north as Alachua, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River and St. Lucie Counties. However, individuals observed in more northern counties are likely escaped or released captive animals and are unlikely to establish populations, as iguanas are not cold hardy,” FWC says.
South Florida’s network of man-made canals provides ideal pathways that enable these reptiles to disperse and expand into new areas, it adds.
What People Are Saying
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said in a post on X, Wednesday: “A record cold front may mean snow in other parts of the country but in FL it means iguanas fall down from the trees.”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said on X, Monday: “When temps drop to near-freezing or below, nonnative green iguanas temporarily go into a state of torpor, losing all muscle control, & sometimes even falling out of trees (!).”
What Happens Next
According to the National Weather Service, Jacksonville will see a high of 68 degrees with a low of mid-to-low 30s on Wednesday, Miami will see a high of 76 with a low in the upper 50s, and Tampa will see a high of 71 and lows in the 40s.
