It’s Raining Iguanas in South Florida

The weather outside is crazy, especially in South Florida where it was literally raining iguanas.

by Michael John Scott

The AP reports temperatures in parts of the not so aptly named Sunshine State were below 40 degrees Thursday—well cold enough to freeze iguanas, which aren’t native to the area.

“They’ll fall out of trees. They’ll end up in areas where your cars are, parking lots, areas where they’re cold-stunned,” Emily Maple, reptile keeper at the Palm Beach County Zoo, tells CBS12.

“It’s too cold for them to move,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Kristen Sommers adds to the AP.

But the lizards aren’t necessarily dead. “They’re still able to breathe. They’re still able to do bodily functions just very slow,” Maple tells CBS12. She adds the iguanas will revive and get more active if temperatures increase.

But more than two days of sub-45 degrees, and they’ll likely die, typically from pneumonia. Maple says people can move the iguanas into the sun or out of the road “if you feel comfortable.”  Apparently, hundreds of people feel comfortable as it’s been reported that folks are picking up the stunned critters and even taking them into their own homes until the weather warms.

Meanwhile, the Wildlife Conservation Commission rescued around 100 sea turtles stunned by cold waters Thursday, the Miami Herald reports.

About Post Author

Professor Mike

Professor Mike is a left-leaning, dog loving, political junkie. He has written dozens of articles for Substack, Medium, Simily, and Tribel. Professor Mike has been published at Smerconish.com, among others. He is a strong proponent of the environment, and a passionate protector of animals. In addition he is a fierce anti-Trumper. Take a moment and share his work.

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