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Iguanas settle from trees during cold weather has become so common in Florida , it ’s even been included inweather forecasts . But why do thesereptilesreact this way to the coldness ?
Since they ’re cold - blooded , green iguanas ( Iguana iguana ) can shin to preserve their body temperature in colder weather , assign them in a temporary torpor body politic . This is a type of palsy that can cause them to lose muscle control — so they fall from their perch . The paralysis typically come when the weather dip into the 40s Fahrenheit , saidJoe Wasilewski , a preservation life scientist at the University of Florida . The cold weather regard other non - native reptiles in Florida too , like pythons and crocodile , which often ca n’t endure when the temperature drops .
Iguanas falling from trees during cold weather has become so common in Florida.
Non-native species
The original native range of green iguanas extends from southern Mexico to central Brazil and Bolivia , so their optimum body temperature is between about 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit ( 29 to 35 degrees Celsius ) , Wasilewski told Live Science . When the temperature drops below 50 F ( 10 F ) , the Iguana iguana ' metabolism slows down , and they start falling from Tree once the temperature gain the low 40s .
" Their body metabolic process is built for living in a tropical area , " Wasilewski said . " They ’ve been localize in these home ground , south Florida for representative … where once or twice a yr we get a cold snap . "
Expanding range
The phenomenon has been more detectable recently due to booming iguana population . Iguanas were introduce to Florida in the sixties , and theirpopulations have grownsince the 1990s , part due to a lack of rude predatory animal .
The fall Iguana iguana phenomenon is well known in South Florida because the green iguana population is get , but also because Florida is probable the northmost extent of their invasive range , says Wasilewski — so it ’s one of the few post where iguanas mostly fly high , but sometimes get stale weather condition . This might commute though , with temperatures warming due to climate variety .
" I ’m getting more and more reports of counties north of where their northerly extent is , starting to see [ common iguana ] , " say Wasilewski . " As the weather condition pose warmer they ’re going to distribute themselves to more northern county ; however , those more northern county are going to have more cold snap than southerly Florida , and I do n’t cogitate they ’ll be able to survive . "
Typically , paralyzed iguanas will total to their senses as the temperature warms , but the falling iguanas can be a hazard , injuring people or detrimental railroad car . The National Weather Service has issuedfalling iguana warnings , encourage people to be aware of their surroundings — and to leave a cold - stunned iguana alone if they come across one .
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" Staff with the FWC ’s foreign-born Fish and Wildlife Program reminds the public that if they encounter a stale out Iguana iguana , they should not get it into their homes,“Lisa Thompson , a voice for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission , told Live Science in an email . " Iguana iguana are wild animal and once they recover and warm - up , they could playact defensively . "
Wasilewski recount once being called to collect cold - kayoed iguanas , transporting them in a box while the weather condition warm up up , and afterward opening the box seat to discover it full of extremely active and jumping iguanas .
" If nobody bothers them … chances are , they ’re gon na warm up up and scurry right back up the tree , " Wasileski said .
