Bad news for iguanas: South Florida is getting hit by a cold front and the reptiles will start falling from trees

Temperatures in Florida are expected to cool significantly in the coming days and that have some strange consequences for the local wildlife.

Experts predict a cooling to below 50 degrees in Southern Florida this week and the the local population of iguanas is not equipped for those temperatures. Iguanas are cold-blooded animals, meaning that they rely entirely on heat form the sun because they do not generate their own body heat.

If the temperatures reach the mid-40s, iguanas can enter a dormant state and cease movement. As temperature go lower the effect is even more intense and iguanas can essentially be stunned into paralysis by the cold.

This means that it not uncommon to hear reports of iguanas literally falling from trees as they are unable to maintain their grip on branches. The reptiles may appear dead but you should not touch them as they will start to reanimate as the temperatures increase.

This is not a new phenomenon and local residents are being warned to take care when moving through wooded or tree-lined areas when the temperatures are low. In 2023 a man was struck and injured by a falling iguana when he took part in an outdoor yoga session in Miami.

Locals should be particularly aware this week as meteorologists are warning of a significant cold snap bringing cold conditions to the south and east. The eastern two-third of the United States is braced for colder conditions, with a cold front spanning from the Great Lakes in the north down to Florida and Texas.

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