Florida’s iguanas fall out of trees after “ice cold” weather and people are sad

by

The recent cold weather in Florida has caused iguanas to become sluggish and fall from trees. Videos of people rescuing these cold-stunned reptiles are now circulating online.

Okay, so when animals start becoming a real nuisance to people, the city usually has to step in. They end up spending money on things to keep them away – like traps for rodents or bug spray – and just hope it solves the problem. It’s basically damage control, you know?

For several years, Florida has been dealing with a growing iguana population. In Miami-Dade County, officials have been thinking about offering rewards to people who can remove these reptiles from public areas.

The recent cold weather seems to have had the same effect, as people are reporting iguanas falling from trees and becoming immobile due to the cold.

Floridians are picking up tonnes of frozen iguanas

On February 2nd, wildlife content creator RyanIzFishing reported collecting 68 iguanas in South Florida because the weather was extremely cold.

I was shocked to hear from Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill that he personally spotted fifty iguanas just this morning, all hanging out on the ground! Apparently, they were just waiting to be collected.

Many of the iguanas will likely survive, even though they may appear lifeless. They don’t actually die, but enter a deep, slowed-down state.

Many people who watched Ryan’s video told him to look after the animals, but others pointed out that introducing them could harm Florida’s native wildlife. One commenter described the situation as “sad and depressing.”

Honestly, it really bothers me seeing people catch these animals just for them to be killed off. I get that they’re not supposed to be here, but it feels wrong to just keep wiping them out when we’re the ones who moved into their territory. And let’s be real, anyone who’s collected this many clearly knows they’re causing issues down in South Florida.

Magill explained that most of the iguanas being captured will likely be put down because they are considered an invasive species. He emphasized that the situation has become a significant issue in Florida, stating, ‘These animals aren’t living a fairytale life, despite the presence of Disney World.’

Read More

2026-02-03 14:48