The cold is causing frozen iguanas to fall from trees in Florida
There’s an “iguanocalypse” in Florida, or at least that’s what it looks like judging from the photos worried Floridians are posting all over social media.
Because of the cold temperatures sweeping the nation, iguanas are dropping out of trees like overripe mangoes, littering the ground in an apparent state of rigor mortis.
One tiny detail, though: They’re probably not dead. They are, however, literally frozen.
Emily Maple, the reptile keeper at the Palm Beach County Zoo, told CNN affiliate WPEC the cold-blooded animals get “cold stunned” — that is, they basically freeze — if the temperature gets below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
“If it’s just for a day or two they’ll just get to where they’re completely frozen in time. They’re still able to breathe. They’re still able to do bodily functions just very slow,” said Maple.
Think of this as suspended animation…you know, they don’t actually die.
The iguanas aren’t the only ones trying to avoid the cold weather.
Sea turtles near the Padre Island National Seashore near Corpus Christi, Texas, had to be brought inside to avoid what the National Park Service is calling a “sea turtle cold stunning event due to extremely low temperatures.”
According to the park’s Facebook page, the turtles are being cared for in warm kiddie pools while the cold snap passes.
photo Brandon Jones, Repticon 2014
