Iguanas are Falling From Trees in Florida Due to Extreme Freezing Temperature

This weekend, homeowners in Florida should be on the lookout for iguanas dropping from the skies. According to experts, these reptiles may fall to the ground when certain areas face a cold spell this weekend, especially on Saturday night.

"We've reached falling iguana territory as temperatures," Vivian Gonzalez, a weather anchor at Miami's Fox-affiliated station WVSN, tweeted.

Gonzales also informed the public that while the iguanas may seem immobilized, they are not dead. Iguanas are known to slow down or become immobilized due to the freezing temperature. She also cautioned the public to approach the iguanas with caution.

According to KIRO7, this isn't the first time meteorologists have warned the public about this. The Miami National Weather Service posted an explanation of the event on Twitter in 2020.

"Iguanas have a cold-blooded nature. When temperatures dip into the 40s, they slow down or become immobile," according to the article. "They may fall from trees, but they aren't dead," says the narrator.

Iguanas Affected by Cold Weather

These cold-blooded reptiles are not native to Florida and are considered invasive species. When the temperature lowers, iguanas struggle to maintain their core body temperature, which causes them to become stiff, inflexible, and prone to falling out of trees, generally when sleeping.

They survive their fall to the earth and are frequently surprised to discover themselves there in the first place when they resurrect. These monsters can grow up to 5 feet long and weigh up to 25 pounds, making them capable of injuring humans.

When the temperature lowers, iguanas struggle to maintain their core body temperature, which causes them to become stiff, inflexible, and prone to falling out of trees, generally when sleeping.

According to Robert Molleda, a warning coordination meteorologist with the NWS in Miami, the uniqueness of the falling iguanas to the Floridian region helps make the delivery of weather alerts more interesting and compelling.

"Although it wasn't an official warning, it took on a life of its own on social media since it's such a unique component of the frigid weather," he stated in a report in AccuWeather.

Invasive Iguanas Wreaking Havoc

Iguanas wreak havoc on residential and commercial landscaping plants, and property owners typically consider them nuisances. Trees with leaves or blooms, most fruits (excluding citrus), and practically any vegetable attract iguanas.

Burrows dug by some iguanas corrode and collapse sidewalks, foundations, seawalls, berms, and canal banks, causing infrastructural damage.

Droppings may also be seen on docks, moored boats, seawalls, porches, decks, pool platforms, and within swimming pools. Although iguanas are generally herbivores, researchers discovered tree snail remnants in the stomachs of iguanas at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, suggesting that iguanas may threaten local and endangered tree snail species.

Iguanas have eaten nickerbean, a host plant for the endangered Miami Blue butterfly, at Bahia Honda State Park. Iguanas, like other reptiles, can transfer the pathogenic bacteria Salmonella to people by coming into touch with polluted water or surfaces.