Warning From Florida: 'Watch out for Iguanas Falling from The Trees' If This is Not Climate Change, Nothing Is!

•  Iguanas slow down or become immobile when temps drop into the 40s.
• "They may fall from trees, but they are not dead."
• Green iguanas are an invasive species in Florida known for eating through landscaping.

We are not making this up.

The National Weather Service in Miami has issued an unofficial warning for falling iguanas on Tuesday night due to the unusual cold snap that's hit the Sunshine State.

"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," the weather service tweeted. "Brrr!"

"Iguanas are cold-blooded. They slow down or become immobile when temps drop into the 40s. They may fall from trees, but they are not dead," the weather service said.

Once temperatures reach a certain level, iguanas stiffen up and fall out of trees, according to Chris Michaels, a meteorologist with WSLS-TV in Roanoke, Virginia, who said this is something that has been observed over the years in south Florida.

"At about 50 degrees, iguanas can become lethargic," Michaels said. "It’s when the temperature drops to about 40 degrees or lower that their blood doesn’t move around as quickly. As a result, they can stiffen up and fall out of the trees in which they frequent." The night the iguanas fell::Cold snap chills Florida and now iguana meat is up for sale

During a similar cold snap and iguana warning two years ago, well-meaning residents finding stiffened iguanas were advised to leave them alone, as they may feel threatened and bite once they warm up.

“Don’t assume that they’re dead,” Kristen Sommers, who oversees the nonnative fish and wildlife program for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said in during the January 2018 cold spell.

Green iguanas are an invasive species in Florida known for eating through landscaping and digging burrows that undermine infrastructure.

A two-week cold snap with temperatures below 40 degrees in 2010 killed off many iguanas, along with Burmese pythons and other invasive pests that thrive in South Florida’s subtropical climate. 

This week's cold snap should be short-lived, the weather service said, as temperatures are forecast to rebound into the mid-70s for highs in Miami by Thursday. 

Contributing: The Associated Press

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