Residents of South Florida experienced an unusual phenomenon over the weekend as iguanas began plummeting from trees due to the chilly weather.
The region saw temperatures drop to the mid-30s on Sunday, causing these cold-blooded creatures to enter a state known as ‘torpor.’ In this condition, iguanas lose muscle control and appear to be frozen.
As a result, these iguanas, which are considered invasive in Florida, were discovered lying motionless on the ground in clusters.
Meteorologist Brantly Keiek cautioned on social media that if these reptiles are exposed to such low temperatures for too long, it could be fatal for them.
Jessica Kilgore from Iguana Solutions described the situation to Local 10 News, saying, “They’re like little bags of ice,” as she gathered the ordinarily agile iguanas with ease.
With the mercury barely above freezing, Kilgore noted that people can easily collect them from the ground, likening the process to picking up Easter eggs.
Floridians are typically forbidden from handling iguanas themselves.
But amid the cold snap, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission decided to allow residents to bring the frozen iguanas to temporary collection sites set up across the state, where they will either be humanely euthanized or transferred to licensed permit holders for sale outside of the state.
Florida residents were treated to an unusual sight on Sunday – iguanas that appeared frozen in place amid unusually cold temperatures. Daily Mail US Weekend Editor Michelle Curran spotted one cold-stunned iguana on the beach in Miami
Iguanas – which are considered an invasive species in Florida – were then seen laying immobile in piles on the ground
The cold-blooded creatures go into a state of ‘torpor’ in which they temporarily lose muscle control and appear to be frozen in freezing or near-freezing temperatures
Florida residents were urged to bring the cold-stunned iguanas to drop-off sites set up by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
‘If you want to allow him to defrost, go ahead and move him to the sun and he’ll go ahead and scramble right up the trees,’ Kilgore said of the reptiles.
‘But if you want to help the environment and remove him, you need to call [the Fish and Wildlife Commission] and find a drop-off site, and they’ll be able to take care of him humanely for you.’
At one drop-off site, a man told the local news channel he was ‘kind of surprised’ by how easy it was to spot the frozen creatures.
‘Got out there, found them. Like we’ve seen them in the summer and they are fast and then you see them right now and they just don’t move,’ he said. ‘They’re just so slow.’
The strange sight comes amid a raging bomb cyclone bringing record-breaking snow, powerful winds and dangerous ice to the Southeast.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that a ‘hard freeze’ is expected from Sunday night through Monday morning.
Forecasts for Sunday night suggested that Floridians may see temperatures colder than even those in the Nordic island country of Iceland.
Kyle Hill studies frozen blueberry plants in Clermont, Florida, on Sunday
The unusual sight comes amid the raging bomb cyclone bringing record-breaking snow, powerful winds and dangerous ice to the Southeast
Low temperatures were expected to be in the upper teens while highs were only anticipated to reach the 20s.
‘Ensure you take actions to protect people, pipes, and plants. To prevent water pipes from freezing; wrap or drain or allow them to drip slowly,’ the NWS wrote.
In Tampa Bay, the NWS said that ‘temperatures will drop to below freezing again for most areas.’
Locals were urged to secure any loose objects as part of the wind advisory, which will also make it hard to drive high–profile vehicles.
Meanwhile residents in Orlando were warned they could see a ‘dangerously cold’ low of 29 degrees overnight on Sunday – breaking the record of 32 degrees set in 1980.
