Iguana GuideWhat cold stunning is
Reptiles depend heavily on environmental heat. During a sustained cold spell, green iguanas can become sluggish, stiff and temporarily unable to maintain normal movement.
Why trees are involved
Green iguanas are strong climbers and often sleep or rest above ground. A cold-stunned animal can lose its grip, producing the “falling iguana” reports familiar in South Florida.
Not necessarily dead
A cold-stunned iguana may regain activity as temperatures rise. People should avoid treating an immobile wild animal as harmless; wildlife handling should follow current official guidance.
Why Florida is different
Cold weather helps limit the northern spread of this tropical species. The event links introduced-species geography directly to basic reptile thermoregulation.
Keep exploring
Iguana facts become more useful when anatomy, behavior, species and habitat are connected instead of treated as isolated trivia.
Sources & further reading
Core factual claims on this page were checked against these references.