Iguanas Falling from Florida Trees: Why?

news image
Special Stories
5 Jan 2018 11:02 AM
You probably already saw all of the videos of iguanas falling from the trees in Florida. If you haven't, take a look at the video below! https://www.facebook.com/WeatherNation/videos/10156129899944874/ Now, my first reaction when I saw the videos of people toting these massive lizards around was, "WHY!?" But it's not as bad as it may seem. https://www.facebook.com/jjisola/videos/10155963933754254/ For starters, iguanas aren't even native to Florida. They are an invasive species. Which basically means some lucky kid got an awesome pet and one day when it got too big, that kid let it go in the wild. Iguanas are a cold-blooded animal. Just like any other reptile, the temperature affects them in ways we can't even imagine as warm-blooded animals. This is why you see turtles and lizards sunning themselves on warm days. When cold-blooded reptiles can't find warmth, their bodies start slowing down. Think of it as a form of hibernation. Their blood slows, their breathing slows, and their metabolism slows to the point that they almost seem dead. That immobility is the reason the iguanas started falling from trees in Florida. It's typically a defense mechanism and how reptiles survive the cold desert nights. But don't worry, it never got cold enough in Florida to freeze these lizards to death. Just cold enough to make hauling the iguanas into more sunlight and warmth a good idea! So all of those videos of people carrying the lizards– don't worry, it's too cold for them to attack! But once they warm up, those beasts bite! So get away!!! Not Just the Lizards It got cold enough that the sea turtles off the gulf coast even started slowing down! https://www.facebook.com/WeatherNation/videos/10156129172044874/ https://twitter.com/MyFWC/status/949328495628443649 For WeatherNation — Meteorologist Jeremy LaGoo
All Weather News
More
Mario Sends Tropical Moisture to California, Flooding Possible

Mario Sends Tropical Moisture to California, Flooding Possible

Though Eastern Pacific tropical system Mario

19 Sep 2025 3:20 AM
More Activity Churning in the Eastern Pacific

More Activity Churning in the Eastern Pacific

Out in the Eastern Pacific, we are watching t

19 Sep 2025 3:15 AM
Gabrielle Churns in the Atlantic, Another Tropical Wave Emerges

Gabrielle Churns in the Atlantic, Another Tropical Wave Emerges

We are now a week after the climatological pe

19 Sep 2025 3:10 AM
Storms Slide Down the Plains

Storms Slide Down the Plains

CENTRAL U.S - A trough that came in from the

19 Sep 2025 3:00 AM
Florida Rainfall: Nuisance or Beneficial?

Florida Rainfall: Nuisance or Beneficial?

The dry time has been a little hard to enjoy

18 Sep 2025 8:00 PM
Fall Color Starting To Show in Parts of the Lower 48

Fall Color Starting To Show in Parts of the Lower 48

Grab the pumpkin spice and apple cider donuts

18 Sep 2025 7:30 PM
Northern Lights Close Out the Weekend For Many

Northern Lights Close Out the Weekend For Many

Did you see them? Many might have had better

15 Sep 2025 10:30 PM