What’s this story about frozen iguanas falling en masse from trees in Florida (and why are they being killed)

In Florida the cold is an unusual sight. A rare wave of frost brought thermometers below 10 degrees Celsius, transforming avenues and sidewalks into surreal scenarios: motionless iguanas, fallen from the trees like out-of-season leaves. A phenomenon that repeats itself cyclically, but which continues to amaze residents and tourists.

What it means to be “cold stunned”

But why does this happen? Iguanas are ectothermic reptiles, animals that do not produce body heat on their own and depend on the external environment to regulate their temperature. When the weather gets too harsh, their physiological processes slow down dramatically, putting them in a state called cold stunning. In this condition they temporarily lose control of their muscles, become stiff and often fall from the trees where they take refuge for the night.

They fall, but they are not dead

The image of iguanas “frozen” on the asphalt may seem alarming, but in most cases they are not dead animals. As warmer temperatures return, many slowly wake up and resume normal activities. However, during the torpor phase they are extremely vulnerable: they can injure themselves in the fall or become easy prey for other animals.

The executive order to capture them

Unfortunately, in Florida, green iguanas are considered an invasive species, introduced accidentally or through the pet trade. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), these reptiles cause damage to local ecosystems, dig burrows that compromise riverbanks and infrastructure, and compete with native species. Precisely for this reason, during the cold wave, the agency invited citizens to capture immobilized iguanas.

For a few days, a special executive order was issued that allowed the removal of iguanas without the need for permits. Citizens could deliver them directly to the FWC offices. So far, over 2,000 specimens have been collected and entrusted to the authorities.

The animals are then euthanized in a manner deemed humane or, in some cases, relocated for the legal sale of live animals. A practice which, while understanding the problems caused by iguanas, cannot and must not be decisive. No killing nor confinement in captivity can be the right decision to address the issue.

You might also be interested in: