The Blogging Hounds

They’re cold-blooded — but not that cold-blooded.

An unusually severe cold snap gripping the northern hemisphere has reached deep into the American South, delivering a bizarre and startling sight across Florida: frozen iguanas dropping from trees.

Yes, literally raining iguanas.

As temperatures plunged to record lows, tens of thousands of green iguanas entered a coma-like state, becoming immobilized and falling from branches, rooftops, and power lines across the Sunshine State.

Record Cold in the Sunshine State

According to The Telegraph, temperatures in parts of Florida fell to levels not seen in more than a century.

“Florida is experiencing record low temperatures, with the mercury touching -4°C (25°F) in Orlando — the lowest recorded in February since at least 1923,” the outlet reported.

For cold-blooded reptiles like iguanas, this kind of chill is devastating. Unable to regulate their internal temperature, their bodies slow dramatically, often rendering them motionless for hours or days.

In many cases, that meant gravity did the rest.

Why Iguanas Fall From Trees

When temperatures dip below roughly 50°F, iguanas begin to shut down. Below 40°F, they can become completely paralyzed.

Despite appearances, wildlife officials stress that many of the reptiles are not dead, just temporarily incapacitated — though survival depends on how long the cold persists.

As one Florida resident joked online: “They look dead… until they wake up.”

State Sanctions Mass Collection

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials moved quickly, allowing temporary collection of the invasive reptiles.

NBC6 reported that thousands of iguanas were captured and transported to designated collection sites to be humanely euthanized or sold outside the state.

One two-day removal event alone resulted in more than 2,000 iguanas collected, according to the FWC.

Col. Roger Young, FWC executive director, explained the unprecedented response:

“It’s the first time we’ve ever done this for the iguana executive order. We figured we’d take advantage of this cold weather to try to help the landscape of Florida.”

An Invasive Problem Gets a Natural Check

Green iguanas are non-native to Florida and have exploded in population over the last decade. They damage seawalls, undermine infrastructure, destroy landscaping, and compete with native wildlife.

Cold snaps like this one act as a rare natural control — something Florida rarely experiences in modern winters.

Extreme weather events tend to expose how fragile ecosystems — and infrastructure — really are.

That’s why I don’t assume stable conditions are the new normal. This is the EMP and grid-down protection setup I rely on when weather, systems, or supply chains suddenly fail.

Cold Weather Has Real Consequences

While frozen iguanas may sound amusing, the broader implications are serious.

The same temperatures stunning reptiles are stressing:

• power grids
• water systems
• agriculture
• vulnerable populations

Sudden cold in regions built for heat highlights how little margin for error modern systems have.

When weather turns extreme, resilience becomes personal — not political.

Extended cold also puts strain on the human body, especially joints, muscles, and nerves.

That’s why I keep simple tools on hand when temperatures swing hard. This is the Real Time Pain Relief cream I use when cold weather locks muscles up but work still has to get done.

Social Media Goes Wild

Videos of frozen iguanas piling up on sidewalks, lawns, and truck beds quickly went viral.

One Florida man even joked about creating a “blanket of frozen iguanas,” while others shared clips of stunned reptiles slowly reviving under the sun.

FWC officials caution residents not to kill iguanas humanely unless trained, noting that improperly handled animals can revive suddenly — claws, tails, and all.

Conclusion

Florida’s falling frozen iguanas are bizarre, unsettling, and strangely symbolic.

A state known for heat, hurricanes, and humidity was reminded — abruptly — that nature still sets the rules.

Whether it’s invasive species, fragile grids, or record weather swings, moments like this expose how quickly normal can vanish.

The iguanas will thaw.
The lesson shouldn’t.

If you want to stay grounded in a world where extremes are becoming routine, anchoring matters.

If you read one book to keep perspective when nature humbles modern assumptions, make it this.

Even Florida isn’t immune anymore.

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