Over 5,000 cold-stunned iguanas removed in two days during state's record freeze

The state wildlife agency announced this week that 5,195 cold-stunned iguanas were collected and brought to four designated FWC offices on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 during South Florida's period of record-setting cold temperatures.

"The removal of over 5,000 of these nonnative lizards in such a short time span was only possible thanks to the coordinated efforts of many staff members in multiple FWC divisions and offices, our partners and, of course, the many residents that took the time to collect and turn in cold-stunned iguanas from their properties," Roger Young, FWC's executive director, said at a Feb. 4 meeting in Tallahassee.

Special regulations under an executive order allowed people to remove live, cold-stunned iguanas from the wild without a permit for two days only, the FWC said in a news release.

Of the 5,195 iguanas collected, 3,882 of them were amassed at the FWC's office in Sunrise, about 13 miles west of Fort Lauderdale, the FWC said.

Another 1,075 were collected at the FWC's location in Tequesta, some 24 miles north of West Palm Beach.

There were 215 iguanas collected at the drop-off location in the Florida Keys and 23 nabbed in Fort Myers on the Gulf Coast.

FWC staff worked to coordinate the transfer of iguanas collected to permit holders, including for sale outside the state. Any of the reptiles that couldn't be transferred to permit holders were humanely killed by trained staff, according to the FWC.

"If you encounter a cold-stunned green iguana, you should never bring it into your home or building to warm up," according to the FWC's news release.

"Iguanas can recover from cold-stunning more quickly than you may expect - and, once recovered, can act defensively, with long tails that whip and sharp teeth and claws."

Green iguanas were first reported in South Florida in the 1960s, according to the FWC.

"In cleared habitats such as canal banks and vacant lots, green iguanas reside in burrows, culverts, drainage pipes and rock or debris piles," according to the FWC. 

"South Florida's extensive man-made canals serve as ideal dispersal corridors to further allow iguanas to colonize new areas."

The FWC is no longer accepting live iguanas from the public, the organization said.