Florida’s record freeze sent thousands of iguanas crashing from trees

Coldest weather since December 2010

South Florida woke up to its coldest morning in over 15 years on February 1, 2026. Miami International Airport recorded 35°F at 6:53 a.m., breaking the previous record of 36°F set back in 1909.

Wind chills dropped into the mid-20s across the region, and Palm Beach hit 31°F—also shattering its 1909 daily record. The freezing temperatures sent cold-blooded iguanas tumbling from trees across the area.

Reptiles enter torpor below 50 degrees

When temperatures drop below 40 to 50°F, iguanas lose muscle control and enter a state called torpor. They appear frozen or even dead.

Residents found the reptiles scattered on sidewalks, driveways, and lawns throughout South Florida. One Palm Beach County resident counted between 50 and 60 iguanas in Delray Beach alone.

Many fell from trees when the cold wind knocked them from their branches.

State opens five emergency collection sites

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission acted fast.

The agency issued Executive Order 26-03, which allowed the public to collect cold-stunned iguanas without a permit during a two-day window on February 1 and 2.

FWC opened five drop-off sites in Sunrise, Marathon, Tequesta, Fort Myers, and Lakeland. Officials said collected iguanas would be humanely killed or transferred to permitted dealers.

One site collects over 1,000 iguanas

The response was overwhelming. The FWC office in Sunrise alone collected more than 1,000 iguanas in a single day.

One resident reported bringing in between 50 and 100 reptiles. Another gathered over 100 pounds of iguanas in under an hour.

Some people warmed stunned iguanas in their cars using towels and blow dryers, but FWC warned against this because iguanas recover quickly and bite.

Removal companies see record numbers

Professional removal companies reported their busiest day in years.

Redline Iguana Removal collected around 2,000 iguanas by Sunday afternoon, pulling about 100 from just one golf course within an hour. Iguana Busters received 45 service calls in a single day.

About half of the collected reptiles were already dead. Removal professionals called it the strongest cold front they had seen in a decade.

Tropical reptiles struggle in cold

Iguanas are ectothermic, which means they rely on external heat to regulate their body temperature. Their native habitat stretches from southern Mexico to Brazil, where temperatures rarely dip below freezing.

The pet trade brought iguanas to Florida starting in the 1960s, and the warm climate allowed populations to explode. The reptiles have few natural predators in South Florida.

Brief cold wont control populations

Despite the dramatic scenes, experts say short cold snaps do little to reduce invasive iguana populations.

University of Florida scientist Melissa Miller explained that reptiles have survival mechanisms like cold shock and hypothermia that help them lower their metabolism and conserve energy.

Many iguanas that appear dead come back to life when temperatures rise. Healthy adult iguanas are stunned but rarely killed by brief freezes.

2010 freeze lasted ten days

The January 2010 cold snap was different. Temperatures dropped to around 30°F and stayed there for ten consecutive days, from January 2 through January 11.

That extended duration caused widespread death among reptiles across South Florida. Manatees, sea turtles, crocodiles, iguanas, and pythons all died in large numbers.

A USGS study found the combination of duration and extreme cold was the key factor.

Pythons may be evolving cold tolerance

Florida’s pythons may be adapting to survive cold weather.

A 2023 USGS report found evidence of evolutionary changes in the snakes, with parts of their genome responsible for cold tolerance showing alterations.

During cold events, pythons seek shelter in gopher tortoise and armadillo burrows. The evidence suggests pythons could eventually tolerate climates farther north than their current range.

Populations rebounded quickly after the 2010 freeze.

Iguanas also showing signs of adaptation

Removal professionals report that iguanas seem to tolerate cooler temperatures better over time. The owner of Iguana Busters noted far fewer calls during previous mild winters.

National Geographic reports that iguana populations are unlikely to suffer long-term harm from brief cold snaps.

A University of Florida herpetologist says populations could become more cold-tolerant, and some iguanas may eventually expand their range northward.

Why Florida wants iguanas gone

Florida classified green iguanas as a prohibited invasive species in 2021, and for good reason. The reptiles dig burrows that damage sidewalks, seawalls, and canal banks.

West Palm Beach spent $1. 8 million in 2020 to repair a dam damaged by iguana tunneling.

Iguanas also eat plants that endangered Miami Blue butterflies depend on, and spread salmonella through their droppings.

Rules for handling stunned iguanas

Florida residents can humanely kill iguanas year-round on private property without a permit. Possessing live iguanas requires a permit outside emergency collection windows.

FWC warns that iguanas recover quickly and can bite, scratch, and whip their tails in defense. The agency recommends protective gloves, long sleeves, and pants when handling the reptiles.

Professional wildlife control operators are available for those who cannot remove iguanas themselves.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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