Watch Out for FALLING IGUANAS in Florida — No, We’re Not Kidding

Hairy bugs, unbearable heat, parachuting spiders, freeze watches, and now…falling iguanas — Florida really has it all!

This holiday weekend, some seriously cold temperatures are heading to Florida — causing freeze watches and freeze warnings to go into effect for Disney World counties. And while you might have already prepared with tons of sweaters for yourself and your pets, there’s something else you need to be prepared for that could come seemingly “raining” from the sky.

Cold weather might not bring falling snow to Florida (though it has brought flurries in the past, as FOX 35 Orlando shares!), but it could bring something else that’ll fall from the sky (or, rather, the trees) — iguanas. No, that’s NOT a joke.

Native Floridians may be familiar with this phenomenon that takes place on =cold days, but others might not be so we felt it was a good time to warn you!

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has indicated that Florida’s colder temperatures could cause nonnative green iguanas to get into a state of “torpor.” That means they could “temporarily lose all muscle control,” causing them to become immobilized and fall from their spots in the trees above you — so watch out!

A big word of warning though — do NOT bring these iguanas inside! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission warns that these iguanas can recover quicker than you might expect and could become defensive. They may use their long tails and sharp teeth/claws to defend themselves against you, which would likely NOT be a pretty sight.

They also pointed out that it is illegal to release or relocate green iguanas (or any nonnative species), so that’s important to keep in mind. Also, note that people can’t possess live green iguanas without a permit since they’re a prohibited species in Florida.

Homeowners can, however, humanely kill green iguanas. If you can’t humanely remove them from your property, seek help through a professional wildlife trapper. And you can also put some things in your yard to discourage iguanas from hanging around.

If you’ll be in Florida during this cold spell, be sure to look UP and watch out for iguanas potentially falling from the trees above you — seriously! To learn more about the freeze watches and warnings going into effect this weekend, click here. And stay tuned for the latest updates!

How do you prepare for cold days in Disney World? Tell us in the comments!