South Florida residents stepped outside expecting a brief chill and instead found a scene that felt unsettling and almost unreal. Beneath trees that usually shelter sun-loving reptiles, iguanas lay scattered across sidewalks, lawns, and parking lots, completely still and eerily silent. Some appeared mid-fall, frozen in the exact position where the cold had overtaken them. The sudden drop in temperature transformed familiar neighborhoods into quiet wildlife zones, where once alert animals were now helpless. For many onlookers, the sight stirred confusion and concern, revealing just how vulnerable these creatures become when warmth disappears from the air they depend on to survive.
Over the weekend, much of the Sunshine State saw temperatures dip into the mid 30s. For cold-blooded animals like iguanas, the sudden chill triggered a condition known as torpor. In this state, their bodies slowed dramatically, understanding the cold but unable to fight it. Muscles stiffened. Movement stopped. To onlookers, the reptiles appeared frozen in place.
Green iguanas, which are considered an invasive species in Florida, were soon seen lying in clusters on the ground beneath trees where they normally bask in the sun. Once agile and quick to flee, they were now completely still, eyes closed, bodies rigid against the cold concrete and grass.
Prolonged exposure to these temperatures can be fatal. Meteorologist Brantly Keiek warned on social media that leaving the animals out too long could cost them their lives, describing them as “little bags of ice” once their body heat disappears. The sight was alarming not only because of the number of iguanas, but because of how vulnerable they looked.
A Rare Moment of Stillness
Jessica Kilgore of Iguana Solutions witnessed the effects firsthand while helping collect the immobilized reptiles. She told Local 10 News that the normally lightning-fast animals were so cold that they could be lifted effortlessly from the ground. She compared the process to picking up Easter eggs, a surreal image given how elusive iguanas usually are.
While Floridians are generally prohibited from handling iguanas on their own, the severity of the cold snap prompted a temporary change. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stepped in, allowing residents to bring frozen iguanas to designated collection sites across the state.
At these locations, the animals were handled by professionals. Some were humanely euthanized, while others were transferred to licensed permit holders for sale outside of Florida. The goal was to manage the invasive population responsibly while preventing unnecessary suffering caused by the cold.
For many residents, the experience was both startling and sobering. The frozen reptiles served as a reminder of how quickly nature can shift, even in a place known for warmth and sunshine. In just one cold weekend, creatures built for heat were rendered powerless, relying entirely on human intervention to determine their fate.
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Russel Moneva
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