Overview
- The National Weather Service issued freeze warnings across northern and central Florida, with lows near 24°F and wind chills near 20°F that pose hypothermia risks.
- State wildlife officials advise against bringing immobilized iguanas into homes or cars, instruct residents to keep pets away, and note that possessing live green iguanas requires a permit.
- As ectotherms, iguanas slow below roughly 50°F and can become stunned in the 40s or 30s, sometimes losing their grip in trees and falling; large individuals can injure people if they drop.
- Cold-stunned iguanas often appear lifeless but continue breathing and typically recover once temperatures rise.
- Local specialists caution that relocating iguanas can result in fines and recommend leaving the animals where they are until they warm up.