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Iguanas are falling out of trees in Florida due to cold temperatures

Posted at 6:46 AM, Jan 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-22 16:00:02-05

(WXYZ) — A "falling iguana" alert is underway in south Florida due to cold temperatures.

Temperatures were expected to drop below 45 degrees overnight, which is cold enough for iguanas to go into a dormant stage.

People are also being advised not to assume that the reptiles are dead. They become very still and are likely to fall out of the trees where they sleep, where they could pose a hazard for the people and cars under them.

Wild iguanas were first reported in Florida in the 1960s. Their numbers have grown rapidly since the, despite the occasional cold snap.