As temperatures drop 30° tonight in Fort Myers, keep an eye out for frozen reptile rain.
It may sound like a joke, but it’s a reality for Southwest Florida. When temperatures drop into the 40s, iguanas can freeze and fall from the trees they rest in.
Here’s what to know about the risk of raining iguanas this week.
How cold will it be this week?
Accuweather shows that the temperature will drop 34° Wednesday night in Fort Myers. The low on Wednesday night is 46° with a high of 69° on Thursday and a low of 52° .
Do iguanas really freeze and fall from trees?
Yes! Our invasive iguanas can’t tolerate a cold climate, so when the temperature dips into the 40s, the reptiles become stunned. This can cause their bodies to freeze up, making them fall from trees. But they aren’t dead!
A couple years ago, Florida had a Christmas so cold that it was practically raining iguanas.
Typically, frozen iguanas are most common in January.
What do I do if I see a frozen iguana?
Leave it alone! As soon as the temperature rises again, the iguana will wake up and be back to normal.
Iguanas have sharp teeth and claws, so keep your distance. If an iguana feels threatened, it may attack you.
If you see a frozen iguana, feel free to snap a photo and email it to Kendall.Little@NaplesNews.com.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Do iguanas actually freeze and fall out of trees in Florida?