Overview
- Temperatures in parts of Florida fell to their lowest since 1989, leaving green iguanas immobilized and dropping from branches, with many reviving as conditions warm.
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued a Jan. 30 executive order allowing public collection only on Feb. 1–2 and only on one’s property or with the owner’s consent.
- Residents were instructed to use secure, escape‑proof bags for transport and were warned not to bring motionless animals indoors because they can quickly revive and defend themselves.
- Collected iguanas are being euthanized or, in some cases, transferred to licensed dealers under state rules, reflecting the species’ invasive status in Florida.
- The scale remains unclear, with hundreds documented and far larger figures reported but disputed, as the broader Arctic outbreak has also caused widespread U.S. power outages and more than 100 cold‑related deaths since late January.