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“Iguanas are cold blooded. They slow down or become immobile when temps drop into the 40s (4-6 Celsius). They may fall from the trees, but they’re not dead,” the weather service said.

Chris Michaels, a meteorologist with WSLS-TV in Norfolk, Virginia, says that iguanas can become stiff and fall out of trees at certain temperatures.

“At about 50 (10 C) degrees, iguanas can become lethargic,” Michaels said in a USA Today article. “It’s when the temperature drops to about 40 degrees (4 C) or lower that their blood doesn’t move around as quickly. As a result, they can stiffen up and fall out of the trees in which they frequent.”

In 2010, a two-week-long cold spell killed many iguanas in the state, as well as other reptiles like Burmese pythons. This current cold spell isn’t expected to last as long, according to the weather service.

The green iguana, native to Central America and some tropical parts of South America, is an invasive species in Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says “They can cause considerable damage to infrastructure.”

Some green iguanas are known to dig burrows that can erode and collapse sidewalks, foundations, and seawalls.

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