Overview
- Overnight lows near 23°F (-5°C) left green iguanas cold-stunned and falling from trees across South Florida.
- Hunter Ryan Izquierdo said he gathered more than 90 on Jan. 30 and worked with Bucks Coal Fired Pizza in North Palm Beach to create “The Everglades” pie using iguana meat.
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission authorized a two-day turn-in program for professional euthanasia or transfer, reporting 5,195 iguanas received.
- Social posts of the pizza went viral, drawing criticism over animal welfare and support citing Caribbean and Latin American food traditions.
- Reports flagged food-safety cautions for reptile meat and no enforcement action was reported against the restaurant, while officials underscored the species’ damage to Florida’s ecosystems and infrastructure.