Winter Weather Warning Yields Frozen Iguanas!
Greetings to you and Happy January! Okay, you probably already know manatees live in Florida because of its warm tropical climate. And iguanas also live in that state for that same reason.
Then when it gets cold warm-blooded manatees head into Florida’s balmy tropical springs such as Blue Spring State Park or Homosassa State Park. They will also frequent the warm water outflow of Florida’s energy providers such as Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach or Florida Power and Light’s Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach.
However, our cold-blooded friend the iguana has a completely different plan of attack again the invading cold air. They go into a coma and begin dropping out of trees! The low temperatures actually immobilizing these reptiles until it gets warmer.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said, “Green iguanas are sensitive to the cold and can become stunned when temperatures fall into the 40s and 30s. When that happens, they may lose their grip and fall from the trees. It’s a unique cold-weather hazard in Florida.”
“These cold-blooded reptiles can become ‘cold-stunned’ and can lose their grip on branches when temperatures drop below their tolerance threshold. After falling from a tree, they appear to be dead but remain breathing with critical body functions still operating. When temperatures start to rise throughout the morning, the iguanas can spring back into action.”
Green iguanas were “introduced to Florida decades ago from Central and South America and live mainly in the southern half of the state. And they are not adapted to temperatures below 45 F. The iguanas begin to get sluggish or lethargic once the temperature drops below 50 F.”
Joe Wasilewski, a conservation biologist and a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Iguana Specialist Group said, “When it gets cold in January, it’s funny to those who aren’t from [Florida] to see the news people talking about iguanas falling from trees, but it can and will happen.”
“When fully grown, iguanas can be up to 5 feet long and weigh up to 25 pounds. Such large lizards falling from trees can injure unaware humans who don’t normally prepare for raining reptiles.”
If you are in Florida and you see a sick or injured manatee, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at: 1-888-404-FWCC. They are the folks who are responsible for rescuing us in Florida.
Here’s the Save the Manatee Club link to learn more about manatees …
Here’s a cool link for you to learn more about how we’re rescued and brought into rehabilitation …
~ Robert Scott Thayer
