A rare Florida freeze turned highways into reptile obstacle courses, prompting residents to haul nearly a thousand cold-stunned iguanas to wildlife officials in a bizarre mass removal event that sounds like fiction but exemplifies perfect invasive species management.
Story Snapshot
- Over 950 invasive green iguanas dropped at Florida Fish and Wildlife’s Tequesta facility by February 2, 2026, after cold snap rendered them immobile
- Temperatures plummeted to 33°F on February 1, causing iguanas to enter torpor and fall from trees onto roads, beaches, and neighborhoods across Palm Beach County
- FWC issued Executive Order 26-03 allowing permit-free public collection of stunned iguanas, exploiting their vulnerability for ecosystem protection
- Residents treated the event as community service and family entertainment, collecting specimens up to 4.5 feet long before they recovered mobility
- Wildlife officials warn the removal barely scratches the surface of South Florida’s iguana invasion, with individual properties harboring over 1,000 specimens
When Cold Weather Becomes a Wildlife Management Tool
The February freeze delivered an unexpected gift to Florida’s ecosystem managers. Green iguanas, invasive reptiles that have plagued South Florida since escaping the pet trade in the 1960s, became easy pickings when temperatures dropped below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. These Central and South American natives lack natural predators in Florida and wreak havoc by devouring native bird eggs, burrowing under infrastructure, and decimating landscaping. The cold snap rendered them temporarily paralyzed through torpor, a biological survival mechanism that ironically made them sitting ducks for removal.
FWC Officer Tyson Matthews seized the moment, explaining that the agency wants these animals completely out of Florida’s ecosystem. The temporary Executive Order eliminated normal permit requirements, transforming ordinary citizens into deputized invasive species hunters. Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation alone delivered 140 iguanas to the Tequesta Field Lab, while families like the Arsenaults turned collection into educational entertainment for their children.
Traffic Jams and Falling Reptiles
West Palm Beach drivers encountered surreal morning commutes as motionless iguanas littered roadways throughout the Treasure Coast region. The spectacle extended from Hobe Sound to Lake Worth Beach, where residents witnessed four-foot lizards dropping from tree canopies like scaly hailstones. Lisa and Phil Bennett from Hobe Sound collected a massive 4.5-foot specimen, emphasizing the importance of removing these ecological threats. Tony Moré in Lake Worth Beach described the scene as a fantastic opportunity, noting iguanas appeared everywhere across neighborhoods and beaches.
The weather phenomenon created temporary chaos but offered a silver lining for ecosystem restoration. Stunned iguanas remained vulnerable only until mid-morning when rising temperatures above 50 degrees triggered their recovery. FWC officials warned collectors to use gloves and secure bags, as the reptiles possess sharp claws and teeth that become dangerous weapons once they regain consciousness. The agency explicitly prohibited bringing iguanas indoors to warm them, preventing both potential injuries and inadvertent releases back into neighborhoods.
A Long Battle Against Biological Invasion
This cold snap represents the latest chapter in a decades-long struggle against green iguana proliferation. Similar freeze events in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2020 produced comparable die-offs and collection opportunities, yet populations rebound quickly in South Florida’s typically warm climate. Professional removal services like Iguana Solutions report properties containing over a thousand individuals, with regular hunting yielding 300 to 400 specimens annually on single sites. The February 2026 event’s scale exceeded previous efforts, yet hunters acknowledged they merely scratched the surface of the infestation.
The economic and ecological calculus strongly favors aggressive removal. These invasives damage agriculture, threaten native wildlife through predation, and undermine property values through landscape destruction. Volunteer labor during cold snaps provides cost-effective population control compared to year-round professional services. The community engagement aspect transforms a nuisance into participatory conservation, reinforcing public support for FWC’s invasive species management while creating memorable Florida experiences that locals share proudly.
The Reality Behind the Memes
Social media immortalized “iguana rain” as quintessentially Floridian humor, but the underlying problem demands serious attention. Green iguanas reproduce prolifically in the absence of natural predators, creating exponential population growth that outpaces removal efforts. Their consumption of native bird eggs directly threatens species already stressed by habitat loss and climate change. The infrastructure damage from their burrowing habits costs property owners thousands in repairs, while their aggressive territorial behavior during breeding season poses safety risks in residential areas.
The temporary collection window closed at 4 p.m. on February 2, ending the permit-free removal period as temperatures stabilized. The 950-plus iguanas represented significant ecological relief, but wildlife managers recognize this weather-dependent strategy cannot substitute for comprehensive year-round control programs. Future cold snaps will undoubtedly trigger similar collection efforts, yet Florida’s warming climate trends suggest these opportunities may become increasingly rare, forcing reliance on traditional removal methods to combat an invasion that shows no signs of natural decline.
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Only in Florida: Cold snap triggers iguana drop-offs by the hundreds at FWC facility
