Florida residents have been seeing a bizarre winter phenomenon: iguanas dropping from trees during a rare and intense cold snap. Videos and photos from across the state show the normally tree-dwelling reptiles lying motionless on sidewalks and lawns, leaving locals shocked and bewildered.
The reason is biological. Green iguanas are cold-blooded reptiles, meaning they rely on external heat to regulate their body temperature. When temperatures fall into the 30s and 40s Fahrenheit, their metabolism slows, and they enter a state called cold stunning, which causes them to lose muscle control and their grip on branches—resulting in the unusual sight of falling iguanas.
This cold snap is part of a larger winter “bomb cyclone” sweeping across the eastern U.S., bringing record-low temperatures and rare freezes to Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has responded by allowing residents to safely collect cold-stunned iguanas for humane handling or disposal. Because iguanas are invasive species, this provides a rare window for residents to remove them legally.
While alarming to witness, most iguanas are not dead—they often recover once temperatures rise. Experts caution that handling them should be done carefully to avoid bites or scratches, even during the temporary exemption period.
