National Weather Service warns of falling iguanas in Florida -CNN

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/21/weath...rnd/index.html

(CNN)As the coldest air of the season spreads across the Eastern US, even some southern states are feeling the chill.

From Louisiana to the Carolinas, even down through Florida, temperatures are averaging 10 to 15 degrees below normal.
Freeze warnings and hard freeze warnings are in effect across Florida and Georgia through Wednesday morning.
Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service in Miami issued a rare forecast regarding cold temperatures but it was for iguanas. Yes, you read that correctly.

I - guan - as
"Don't be surprised if you see iguanas falling from the trees tonight," tweeted the Miami National Weather Service office.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images...v8h_normal.jpgNWS Miami
✔@NWSMiami





Jan 21 - This isn't something we usually forecast, but don't be surprised if you see Iguanas falling from the trees tonight as lows drop into the 30s and 40s. Brrrr! #flwx #miami
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EO03KfnU...pg&name=medium





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The concern for people in South Florida is that these iguanas often sleep in trees, so when their bodies go dormant, they appear to fall from the sky onto streets, cars, pools, or even people walking around. And since iguanas are large -- adult males can reach 5 feet in length, and weigh up to 20 pounds -- this can be dangerous if one lands on top of you.
The invasive species can't handle cold temperatures very well because they are cold-blooded. In general, iguanas begin to get sluggish or lethargic once the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the temperature drops below 45 degrees Fahrenheit the iguanas go into a dormant or cold-stunned state. They appear to be dead, but they are not. They remain breathing with critical body functions still operating.
It is their body's way of protecting them until the temperature warms up back up above 50 degrees.
If those temperatures remain in the 40s for periods over eight hours, a significant number of those iguanas will die, especially the smaller ones.

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Frozen iguanas fall out of trees in Florida 01:32



"The temperature threshold for when iguanas begin to go into a dormant state depends greatly on the size of the iguana," explains Ron Magill, communications director for Zoo Miami. "Generally speaking, the larger the iguana, the more cold it can tolerate for longer periods."
He also demonstrates how even though extended periods of air temperatures in the 40s could lead to the demise of some iguanas. 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, which help them survive short cold snaps.
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Not everyone is concerned about the well-being of these iguanas, though. They are considered an invasive species, so some people are looking forward to an opportunity to rid their yards of these reptiles.
"I do know that there are several iguana hunters that are looking forward to this upcoming cold front as it will certainly facilitate them removing these invasive reptiles from the South Florida environment as they will not be able to run away!" Magill told CNN.

I told this story to my eleven year old niece this morning and she thought it was hilarious that lizards could fall out of the sky onto people.

On a serious note: I know we're all reptile lovers here, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Being that they're invasive, it may help clear the field as bit.

As a lifelong Floridian, I am encouraging everyone I know to LEAVE this invasive species alone if they fall!! Some yahoo a few years ago rounded up about 40 of them and "saved" them. So frustrating.

I wonder what affect this weather will have on the invasive Burms in Florida?

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Originally Posted by ladywhipple02

I told this story to my eleven year old niece this morning and she thought it was hilarious that lizards could fall out of the sky onto people.

On a serious note: I know we're all reptile lovers here, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Being that they're invasive, it may help clear the field as bit.

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It does sound funny when you're 11, but if you parked your car under a tree you might find it with a broken windshield & a badly-injured iguana in the driver's seat...:(
Or if you're really unlucky, you yourself might be injured, even killed, by a falling iguana of sufficient size...not really so funny after all.

That's actually what I was thinking...they mostly make terrible "pets" and there's very few suitable homes to rescue them, but this is a perfect opportunity to euthanize the unwanted invaders in a fairly "kind" way (while they're incapacitated). I'm a reptile lover like the rest of you, but they're invasive non-native species that negatively impact our native species in Florida, so this cold snap is an opportunity to reduce their numbers. ;)

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Originally Posted by Reinz

I wonder what affect this weather will have on the invasive Burms in Florida?

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It doesn't look like the freezing temps are going to make it as far south as the Everglades.

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Originally Posted by Reinz

I wonder what affect this weather will have on the invasive Burms in Florida?

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Burmese are pretty hardy. I bet if it was only a day or two most would survive. I don't care how many people hunt them either if you leave 1 breeding pair its over. I like Burmese also but they are terrible for the native species. But I think they are here to stay?

...and all I have falling from my trees is snow...:(