February 4, 2026 – By: WAN
As Florida experienced a rare cold snap in early February 2026, residents were alarmed to see green iguanas falling from trees and lying motionless on sidewalks (pavements}, lawns, and roads. Despite the shock, these unique reptiles are not frozen or dead. They are in a natural, temporary state called torpor, a cold-induced coma that helps them conserve energy when temperatures drop below 40°F (4.4°C).
Once temperatures rise, the iguanas can recover quickly. Even though green iguanas are invasive in Florida, these extreme weather events show how vulnerable these creatures can be. They are surviving in an environment far from their natural habitat, and human intervention can either protect or unnecessarily harm them.
Green iguanas were imported from Central and South America as pets beginning in the 1960s and 1970s. Some were intentionally released when their owners could not handle their large size, while others escaped captivity. Florida’s warm, subtropical climate allows iguanas to reproduce quickly, with females laying multiple clutches of eggs per year. Today, their population is estimated at hundreds of thousands to over a million, primarily in South and Central Florida.
On January 30, 2026, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued Executive Order 26‑03, temporarily allowing the public to collect cold-stunned green iguanas without a permit on February 1–2, 2026, and transport them to designated FWC offices. The order has since expired, and the FWC is no longer accepting live iguanas from the public.
Sadly, many of the iguanas brought to FWC drop-off locations were euthanized because they are considered invasive in Florida. Others were transferred to permitted holders who could legally care for them or, in some cases, sell them outside the state.
WAN and Peace 4 Animals stress that the cold snap should not be used as an excuse for unnecessary euthanasia. Whenever possible, iguanas should be handled humanely, and relocation to permitted, suitable facilities or habitats outside Florida should be considered as an alternative to immediate killing.
Florida’s state anti-cruelty laws apply to green iguanas. Intentional harm or unnecessary suffering is illegal. Humane handling is always required.
Above all, these cold-stunned green iguanas deserve to be treated with respect and compassion, reflecting our responsibility to all animals that rely on us for their survival.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 