The Florida government has suggested its residents "humanely kill" iguanas that have frozen due to the extreme cold. This decision came after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) received more than 2,000 frozen reptiles. Previously, on February 1st and 2nd, temporary regulations allowed people to transport live but cold-stunned iguanas to FWC offices. However, this acceptance has now been stopped. "Green iguanas are not a protected species in Florida, and members of the public may humanely kill them year-round on their own property or with the property owner's permission," the FWC stated in a release. The Commission warns that the frozen iguanas can recover from the cold faster than people realize, after which they will act defensively using their long tails, sharp claws, and teeth. This phenomenon, known as an "iguana rain" where the reptiles fall from trees after being frozen solid, reflects the devastating impact of the cold snap in Florida, which saw record-low temperatures near zero and even snow at the beginning of February.
