Cold weather brings many dangers, like frostbite and hypothermia, but falling iguanas doesn’t typically crack the list. Well, a freeze warning is now in effect from Louisiana to the Carolinas, and the National Weather Service in Miami has issued a particularly rare warning. “Don’t be surprised if you see iguanas falling from the trees tonight,” they tweeted. That’s right. As if worrying about falling icicles wasn’t enough, now people have to look skyward to make sure green lizards aren’t falling on their face.
Photo: Przemyslaw Skibinski/Shutterstock
Watch Out for Falling Iguanas, Warns National Weather Service
Jan 21 – 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. Brrrr! #flwx #miami pic.twitter.com/rsbzNMgO01
— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) January 21, 2020
Iguanas often sleep in trees and become sluggish once the temperature dips below 50 degrees, meaning they could potentially go into a cold-stunned state and drop from trees. Since the cold-blooded lizards can weigh up to 20 pounds, this could pose a danger to unsuspecting humans walking below.
Some iguanas are insulating themselves from the cold by going deep into burrows, but if you see a fallen iguana stiff on the ground, don’t assume it’s dead and leave it be or move it to a safe spot — as soon as the temperatures go up again, it’ll likely be reanimated. 