South Florida faces a cold front. Will it be enough to cause falling iguanas?
MIAMI - When temperatures in South Florida drop below a certain level, cold-stunned iguanas start falling out of trees.
Now the big question is: will it happen this week?
NEXT Weather meteorologist Lissette Gonzalez said the coldest air of the season, so far, arrives on Wednesday morning with lows falling to mostly the upper 40s. Some inland areas could see the mid-40s. You will need to bundle up and add extra layers since highs will struggle to reach 70 degrees with bright, winter sunshine.
Will iguanas freeze this week in South Florida?
The invasive species can't handle cold temperatures very well. In general, iguanas begin to get sluggish or lethargic once the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the temperature drops below the mid-40s, iguanas go into a dormant or cold-stunned state and sometimes fall out of trees where they perch. They appear to be dead, but they are not. They remain breathing with critical body functions still operating.
Iguanas go into this cold-stunned state as a way of protecting themselves until the temperature warms back up above 50 degrees.
NEXT Weather meteorologist Shane Hinton said he doesn't expect any cold-stunned iguanas this week, but they will be affected by the temperatures and become lethargic. To what degree depends on the size of the iguana. Larger iguanas can tolerate cold for longer periods, according to Zoo Miami Communications Director Ron Magill.
Many iguanas in South Florida have adapted to going deep into burrows where they stay insulated from the cold. They tend to also live close to large bodies of water, which tend to be warmer than the air temperatures, something that helps them survive short cold snaps.
Iguanas are an invasive species in Florida
The green iguana, the Mexican iguana, and the spinytail iguana were originally brought to South Florida from Central and South America.
They're considered an invasive species and they've become more than just a nuisance. The giant lizards have caused costly structural damage and even power outages. Iguanas have been seen eating gardens, getting into pools and even finding their way into toilets. They also have a reputation for passing salmonella to pets.
Experts said the iguana population is growing out of control and disrupting the lives of the state's wildlife, including gopher tortoises, sea turtles and burrowing owls.
In 2021, the state banned pet owners from any future possession of iguanas. The giant lizards have almost no natural predators in Florida, one female can lay up to about 70 eggs a year.
Iguanas, like all non-native invasive species, are not protected in Florida except by anti-cruelty laws and can be humanely killed with a landowner's permission.
