Lisa Gilbert of Fort Lauderdale encountered a frozen iguana Jan. 30, 2022, posting on Facebook, "This is a frozen iguana. In Florida when it is cold, they actually fall and freeze. I used to think they were dead. #frozeniguanas"
Vibrant green iguanas are also known as chicken of the trees because they're viewed as a food source
Jan 31, 2022; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; An iguana stunned from the cold in Dreher Park in West Palm Beach, Florida on January 31, 2022. The reptiles can be paralyzed for several hours until they warm up and crawl away. Mandatory Credit: Greg Lovett-USA TODAY NETWORK

(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)

A now near annual occurrence, falling iguanas are in the forecast again for the next couple of days in parts of Florida due to a potentially record-smashing cold snap.

Some of the cold that's spread across the eastern United States will make its way to south Florida tonight, Nov. 10, where temperatures could dip into the high 30s – a chilly reading in that subtropical climate.

The cold blast could immobilize iguanas and cause them to fall out of trees. The lizards start getting sluggish in temperatures below 50 degrees and are known to "freeze" when temperatures dip into the 30s and 40s, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

How cold is too cold for an iguana?

Iguanas thrive in Florida's warm climate, and they like to sleep in trees.

When temperatures hit below freezing, the 30s or 40s, that slows them down or immobilizes them. Freezing is below 32 degrees. They stiffen up and lose their grip on branches ‒ hence, "falling iguanas."

The frozen iguanas can remain paralyzed on the ground for hours until the weather warms up enough to let their blood thaw.

The paralysis effect is temporary.

'Falling iguana warning'

National Weather Service stations in Florida have issued unofficial "falling iguana" advisories before to warn residents of the threat of severe cold and advise that the lizards they might find on the ground are usually temporarily immobilized, not dead.

"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.

Where can you find iguanas (and frozen iguanas) in Florida?

Iguanas can be found along canal banks, shrubs, culverts, drainage pipes, rock piles and the occasional golf course.

When the weather is cold enough for "frozen iguanas," petrified reptiles are likely found on sidewalks and sometimes pool decks.

An invasive species

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 upper-70s for highs in Miami by later in the week.

What to do if you see a frozen iguana

Here are some tips via the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as of Nov. 10, 2025:

  • If you encounter a cold stunned green iguana, do not bring it into your home, vehicle or building. Non-native green iguanas are wild animals, and once they recover and warm up, they could act defensively.
  • Green iguanas were added to Florida’s Prohibited list on April 29, 2021, and people cannot be in possession of live green iguanas without a permit. Because they are not native to Florida, it is illegal to release or relocate captured iguanas.
  • Iguanas, like all non-native, invasive species, are not protected in Florida except by anti-cruelty law. They can be captured and humanely killed on private property at any time with landowner permission. Captured iguanas cannot be relocated and released at other locations in Florida.
  • If you want to remove green iguanas from your property but cannot safely and humanely remove them, contact a professional wildlife control operator.
  • For more information about green iguanas, including technical assistance for homeowners — including techniques to discourage iguanas from frequenting your property — and a list of professional wildlife control operators, visit myfwc.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The upcoming weather forecast? Chilly with the chance of falling iguanas

Reporting by Doyle Rice and Jennifer Sangalang, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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