Cold-stunned iguanas drop from trees in South Florida
Though unusually cold air has gripped South Florida over the past few days, an even more unusual phenomenon has been affecting the local iguana population.
A recent cold snap has stunned the lizards, causing them to fall from their perches in trees.
Residents in Miami and nearby towns have taken to social media to describe seeing large, motionless iguanas scattered about.
The cold blooded animals are known to enter a sleeplike state in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
This week, the mercury has plummeted into the 40s on a couple of occasions, with the lowest recording hitting 44 F just before dawn on Thursday.
According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Maggie Samuhel, the low temperatures haven’t been record-breaking, but air this cold only reaches Miami every three to four years.
“It’s an impressively cold stretch,” she said.
During the night iguanas sleep in trees, but as temperatures dropped, their blood slowed, shutting down their bodies and they couldn't hold onto the trees anymore. So iguanas were falling from the trees, cold-stunned on the ground.
Animal experts warn those who come across stunned iguanas to be cautious. Though they may not be moving, most will still be alive and can bite.
They should generally be left alone when found, as they will slowly regain mobility in the daytime sunshine.
The frigid air moving across the eastern U.S. has posed more serious risks to other species.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and officials at the Padre Island National Seashore in South Texas have been rescuing stunned sea turtles floating in the water and near the shore.
Farther north, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy has reported several frozen thresher sharks washed ashore in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
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