It’s quite a sight to see—iguanas falling from trees in Florida!
Recently, a cold snap has left these reptiles almost immobile, and wildlife workers are busy scooping them up as they drop. With temperatures so low, these cold-blooded reptiles are rendered helpless, and in a state where more than a million iguanas usually bask in trees, that results in quite a few tumbling down.
“They feel like little bags of ice,” Jessica Kilgore from Nuisance Animal Removal Services noted while holding a hefty 10-pound iguana.
Under normal circumstances, Florida residents are not allowed to handle iguanas, but due to the extreme winter conditions, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission established temporary collection sites throughout the Panhandle.
Kilgore mentioned she trekked along the coast of Hollywood, Florida, gathering “hundreds of pounds worth” of these fallen reptiles.
She said that right now, the icy iguanas cover the ground to the point where picking them up is as easy as finding Easter eggs. The FWC either transfers the iguanas to licensed dealers in other states or euthanizes them, but Florida residents aren’t required to surrender their iguanas.
If you want to help an iguana recover, she suggested placing it in the sun; it may then climb back up a tree. But for those looking to manage the reptile population, contacting FWC for surrender instructions is crucial.
Kilgore pointed out that iguanas hold significance in “many different cultures,” where various parts of the reptiles, including their eggs, are considered delicacies. “This is a quick snack that fell out of the tree this morning,” she commented.
The Sunshine State deals with several invasive reptile species, such as Burmese pythons and Argentine tegus, primarily brought in through illegal pet trading. To combat the python population, Florida hosts various events, including the annual Florida Python Challenge.
