‘It’s real.’ Frozen iguanas in Florida: Best photos, tweets, Instagram posts about cold weather event – Palm Beach Post

Freezing is below 32 degrees
January is typically when the “frozen iguanas” phenomenon happens

It happened.

Florida weather was so cold that frozen iguanas fell out of trees. And users on social media were only too happy (or shocked) to comment on the trending topic.

Tracey Douglas of Davie encountered a frozen iguana Sunday, after the season’s coldest temperatures were recorded. She posted the photo on Facebook, saying, “It is cold indeed in South Florida. I found this frozen iguana on my walk with my dog this morning. Y’all stay warm and bundled up.”

Douglas later reported, “I am happy to report that the frozen iguana is no longer where I saw him earlier. One of the kids said they saw him moving so it’s likely the sun warmed it up, and it’s once again full of life.”

When it feels like it’s freezing in the Sunshine State, the term “frozen iguanas” comes up. That’s when the invasive species fall from trees or end up on sidewalks stunned from the cold. It happens when temperatures dip into the 30s and 40s. But not to worry, the paralysis is temporary.

Spotting a frozen iguana (or “falling iguana”) is a social media phenomenon that meteorologists, the Weather Channel, Accuweather and the National Weather Service like to reference.

And now people with a non-weather background reference it, too.

When cold weather strikes Florida, here’s where you can likely find ‘frozen iguanas’

If you’re inclined to help:How to handle frozen iguanas when temperatures drop near freezing

In a previous story on TCPalm and Palm Beach Post, both part of the USA TODAY Network-Florida, about how to help a frozen iguana or where to likely find one in Florida, we asked readers to send photos and videos if they encountered one.

We were not disappointed.

Photos of frozen iguanas in Florida

In honor of this so Florida event, here are some of the best frozen iguanas photos, tweets, memes and Instagram posts from social media. (Pro tip: Hit refresh and check back with this story for more amazing frozen iguanas photography.)

We’ll also include some things to know about the cold-blooded reptiles in this story

Louise Pearson submitted a photo Sunday of a frozen iguana, saying, “We found this guy in Naples this morning. He had fallen out of a tree.” She followed up with an email a day later: “He was about 20 inches including tail. We believe he is OK. We put him somewhere to warm, and he has gone now.”

► Want to know about the weather or news in Naples? Visit naplesnews.com

Kathy Hillard Dimpflmaier of Pompano Beach encountered a frozen iguana and held it. She posted photos on Facebook with the caption, “Frozen iguanas. Frozen Kathy.”

Lisa Gilbert of Fort Lauderdale is now a believer — she posted a photo Sunday of a frozen iguana on Facebook with a caption: “This is a frozen iguana. In Florida when it is cold, they actually fall and freeze. I used to think they were dead. #frozeniguanas”

For Drew Morris of Boca Raton, the frozen iguanas phenomenon was not something he was expecting, having just moved to the Sunshine State from California. Then he saw it happen for himself. He tweeted the photo, saying, “Earlier this week I posted about frozen iguanas falling from the sky here in Florida. That tweet was intended to be tongue-in-cheek. It is very real, and I hereby apologize to all the frozen (iguanas) out there (including this one in my driveway). He’s alive but shhh he’s sleeping.”

Twitter was definitely a hot spot for sharing frozen iguana stories. Diane Warner posted photos of frozen iguanas there, saying, “The famous frozen iguanas of South Florida at the dog park!” The iguanas were found at Joseph Scavo Park in Hallandale Beach. She later tweeted an update: “(Three iguanas) were already coming back to normal by the time I left. They were moved into the sun to help warm up.”

How cold is too cold for an iguana?

Iguanas are known to thrive in Florida’s warm climate, and they like to sleep in trees. When temperatures hit below freezing, the 30s or 40s, that slows them down or immobilizes them. Freezing is below 32 degrees. They stiffen up and lose their grip on branches — hence, the “falling iguanas” reference.

The frozen iguanas can remain paralyzed on the ground for hours until the weather warms up enough to let their blood thaw. The paralysis effect is temporary.

Where can you find frozen iguanas in Florida?

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, iguanas are common along the Atlantic Coast in Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties and along the Gulf Coast in Collier and Lee counties.

However, there have been iguana sightings in Alachua, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River and St. Lucie counties.

Where do iguanas like to hang out?

Iguanas can be found along canal banks, shrubs, culverts, drainage pipes, rock piles and the occasional golf course. When the weather is cold enough for “frozen iguanas,” petrified reptiles are likely found on sidewalks and sometimes pool decks.

In this Instagram photo below, a user caught an iguana hanging onto a branch by one arm.

Yes, frozen iguanas in Florida phenomenon is real

While our friends up North post photos of ice-covered windshields or porch furniture blanketed by snow, some of us in South Florida or Southwest Florida share pics of petrified green reptiles. Then in the comments, they defend the authenticity of such an event. “Yes, it’s real.” “Frozen iguanas in Florida, it’s a thing.”

Such was the case with Instagram user @frankieruiz: “This guy just fell from a tree. Frozen iguanas in Miami is a real thing. Coldest weekend for running in 12 years. #30s #dontstop #perfectrunningweather #frozeniguanas #fallingiguanas”

Our USA TODAY Network photographer was excited, too

Veteran Palm Beach Post photographer Greg Lovett snapped close-up shots of a frozen iguana in the Palm Beach area Sunday.

AMAZING video:What a frozen iguana looks like up close (don’t worry, he woke up later)

We get it. We own it. Frozen iguanas is SO Florida

Instagram user @legoparkranger used Lego to create a frozen iguana scene. His caption? “Sure, the Northeast may be buried in snow, but no one there is concerned about being hit by a large reptiles while shoveling. Freezing temperatures in Florida are causing cold stunned iguanas to fall out of trees. Don’t worry, they aren’t dead, but will certainly leave a mark if you get hit by one. Be careful out there. #FindYourPark #frozeniguanas #biscaynenationalpark #biscayne #florida #iguana #reptiles #fallingiguanaforecast #fallingiguanas #lego #legoparkranger #legoranger #legostagram #legophotography #legominifigures”

Please consider subscribing to a USA TODAY Network-Florida newspaper at offers.usatodaynetwork.com/network-regional-florida.

Source Article from https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2022/01/31/frozen-iguanas-florida-weather-photos-twitter-instagram-facebook/9282167002/

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‘It’s real.’ Frozen iguanas in Florida: Best photos, tweets, Instagram posts about cold weather event – Palm Beach Post

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