Historic Cold Snap Mobilizes Florida Residents Against Invasive Iguanas

When temperatures plummeted to the mid-30s across South Florida on February 1, 2026, residents witnessed a bizarre phenomenon: thousands of large green iguanas literally falling from trees.

The cold snap triggered a biological response in these cold-blooded reptiles, leaving them immobilized and dropping from tree branches across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. But this wasn't just an unusual weather event. It became an unprecedented opportunity for wildlife officials to tackle one of Florida's most destructive invasive species problems.

When Cold Weather Becomes a Wildlife Management Tool

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) collected more than 1,000 iguanas in a single day after issuing an emergency executive order on January 30 that temporarily allowed residents to capture and transport cold-stunned green iguanas without a special permit.

Executive Order 26-03 opened five designated FWC drop-off sites across South and Southwest Florida on Sunday, February 1, and Monday, February 2. Residents responded in force. One resident brought in between 50 and 100 iguanas, while another collected over 100 pounds within 45 minutes to an hour.