TikToker goes viral after eating iguanas falling from trees during Florida cold snap

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A TikTok user in South Florida became popular online after sharing videos of himself catching, cooking, and eating iguanas that fell from trees due to unusually cold weather. He used the opportunity to explain why managing invasive species like iguanas is important.

Gray Davis, an environmentalist who shares videos on TikTok as gray.davis, specializes in catching and cooking invasive species in Florida. His popularity exploded in early February 2026 when a severe cold snap caused green iguanas to become immobile and fall from trees throughout the state.

A video by Davis explaining why iguanas were falling from trees in the cold recently went viral, earning 4.6 million views. He followed up with another popular video, reaching 2.2 million views, showing him collecting the iguanas and cooking them into tacos.

Cooking and legal considerations

In a popular online video, Davis showed viewers how he cooks iguana. He starts by boiling the meat for roughly an hour to make it tender, then removes it from the bones. Finally, he sautés it with lime juice and spices before using it to make tacos.

So, this guide really emphasizes making sure everything’s safe when you’re prepping iguana. Apparently, people call it ‘tree chicken’ because it doesn’t have a super strong taste, but you have to clean and cook it properly – otherwise, you’re gonna get sick. Seriously, don’t skip that part!

Florida wildlife officials recommend safely removing green iguanas from your property. These invasive reptiles can harm buildings, gardens, and Florida’s natural plants.

Following unusually cold weather in 2026, the agency authorized residents to collect iguanas that had become immobile due to the cold, either for proper disposal or to process them as food.

Wildlife experts are warning people not to bring cold, fallen iguanas inside their homes or cars. Iguanas can become dangerous and may attack once they warm up and start moving again.

Why iguanas fall from trees during Florida cold snaps

Green iguanas are reptiles that need outside sources of heat to stay warm. As the temperature falls below 50°F, their bodies start to slow down. If it gets to 40°F or colder, they can become very still and enter a deep, temporary sleep called torpor.

When iguanas enter torpor, their muscles become weak, and they lose their ability to hold onto branches, often falling to the ground. Although they may appear lifeless, they are usually still alive and can revive as temperatures increase and they warm up in the sun.

Green iguanas aren’t originally from Florida and don’t do well in cold temperatures, so they sometimes fall from trees during freezing weather. The National Weather Service has even warned people about this happening when temperatures suddenly drop.

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2026-02-04 18:49