Iguanas could rain down from trees in
Florida as temperatures plunge
New York Post,
by
Mark Lungariello
Original Article
Posted By: ladydawgfan,
1/29/2022 9:09:33 PM
Florida weather forecasters are warning iguanas may be falling out of trees this weekend as the Sunshine State goes through a cold snap.
Temperatures in the usually balmy state are expected to plunge this weekend, hitting below freezing in some areas, meaning the cold-blooded lizards raining down to the ground.
“They slow down or become immobile when it’s below 40,” WFTV meteorologist Brian Shields posted on Twitter. “They may fall from trees, but they aren’t dead.”
The phenomenon isn’t uncommon when frigid weather hits Florida. In 2020, the National Weather Service Miami-South Florida issued a warning ahead of a deep chill.
“This isn’t something we usually forecast,
Reply 1 - Posted by:
Thos Weatherby 1/29/2022 9:24:27 PM (No. 1055317)
I'll go drive around my gas guzzler a bit to warm up the atmosphere.
10 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
Rubinski 1/29/2022 9:31:11 PM (No. 1055322)
They ought to pick up the iguanas and ship them off to a deserted island—they’re really pests.
8 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
Bmoc 1/29/2022 9:33:32 PM (No. 1055324)
My wife was a traveling nurse and we lived in the south east corner of the Miami airport on the south side of the river there. I became friends with some Cuban men who showed me how to hunt the iguanas and then cook them. I was never a fan, but my wife sure loved the meat!
4 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
DVC 1/29/2022 10:22:29 PM (No. 1055349)
They taste like chicken.
7 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
voxpopuli 1/29/2022 10:50:15 PM (No. 1055364)
and i thought the odd Chinese Stink Bug was bad
2 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
WV.Hillbilly 1/30/2022 1:20:49 AM (No. 1055409)
They say that like it's a bad thing.
2 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
mifla 1/30/2022 4:56:12 AM (No. 1055443)
Given the price of beef, this could be the other red meat.
3 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
3XALADY 1/30/2022 8:07:17 AM (No. 1055538)
Cold does happen in Florida. I lived there for 20 years in the tropic zone and we lost palm trees and Ixora bushes to the cold. Either put on heavier shorts and socks or your big girl panties and deal with it.
2 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
Daisymay 1/30/2022 8:24:09 AM (No. 1055549)
26 degrees in The Villages, FL this morning. We've been here almost 20 years and have experienced a few winters like this one, but not many. By Wednesday we are supposed to be 79 and the rest of the week 80, so what is there to complain about! We did cover a few of our Azaleas (they're budding already) and the grass took a hit, but everything will come back with the warm weather and a bit of Rain (or running the Sprinklers)! Life is good! I do feel for those up North and especially those who are dealing with a couple feet of Snow! But then, I lived in IL until I was 50, so I know what it's like to have harsh winters. It's just a way of life if you choose to live there! I choose Florida!
3 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
Hazymac 1/30/2022 8:33:53 AM (No. 1055561)
These large non-indigenous lizards can provide skin and, if anyone's interested, meat. If the mercury drops below forty these coldblooded creatures lose mobility and "birdman" out of trees onto the ground. I'd recommend harvesting a few of them for your local tanner and making belts, holsters, shoes, briefcases, and golf bags out of them. South Florida's most enterprising folks like shooting them out of trees and off roofs with mostly air rifles*. There's no season on the, same as with feral hogs and coyotes. Kill 'em by the bushel basket load.
*Modern air rifles come in much larger calibers (and levels of power) than your old Crossman .177 BB/pellet gun from 60 years ago that you'd use on starlings. I've seen a full grown cape buffalo (3,000-4,000 pounds) taken with a air rifle, as well as large North American game. The projectile was a broadhead arrow, essentially, fired from the over .50 caliber barrel of the gun. When the big bull turned sideways, the hunter slipped the projectile.in behind his front left leg. He was down in less than a minute. A more normal air rifle is used on invasive feral hogs. Pop them in the brain, and that's all they ever know. Keith Warren demonstrates here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dfdooK8j5c&t=2s
1 person likes this.
In Indonesia we were constantly warned about "Durians falling from trees". These were large, foul smelling, spikey fruits that regularly killed folks standing under certain trees. Also in New Jersey we used to be warned regularly about "loud noises" from off shore.
3 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
udanja99 1/30/2022 11:33:03 AM (No. 1055732)
It was 22 degrees here in Charleston, SC last night. We’re losing some plants out in the yard and had a frozen pipe this morning but otherwise fine. No iguanas here.
I remember the winter of 2006 when it snowed in Miami. There was a story in the news about some guy who lived there and had told his girlfriend that he would propose only when it snowed there. I don’t know why she stayed with the idiot but he did propose. Don’t know if they ever actually got married.
0 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
DVC 1/30/2022 12:27:43 PM (No. 1055803)
Re #7, I am told that it is a white meat, and I wasn't kidding. They serve it in the Bahamas....and people tell me it is like chicken breast. Never had the opportunity myself, wouldn't turn it down.
0 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
JackBurton 1/30/2022 2:32:55 PM (No. 1055910)
First of all, it isn't just the iguanas. Falling boa Constrictors can be a big problem, too.
Secondly, there are people making a living hunting them and selling iguanas to restaurants. Supposedly, iguana tacos are the very best.
Thirdly, if you decide to collect falling iguanas, know that they 'slow down' but don't die, even in the fall. One 'harvester' put the inert iguanas in the back seat of his car only the crash when they 'resurrected' in the warmth and.... uh..... became active.
0 people like this.
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As if the falling temps aren't enough to worry about!!