It’s Raining Iguanas!

    For most people, winter weather means ice storms and falling snow. But in Florida last winter, locals spotted something else dropping from the sky. 

    They were a lot bigger than a snowflake. 

    They were bright green.

    They had eyes and claws. 

    They were . . . iguanas?

    For most people, winter weather means snow. But in Florida last winter, locals saw something else dropping from the sky.

    They were much bigger than a snowflake.

    They were bright green.

    They had eyes and claws.

    They were . . . iguanas?

    Winter weather typically means ice storms and falling snow—but in Florida last winter, locals spotted something else dropping from the sky. 

    They were much bigger than snowflakes.

    They were bright green.

    They had eyes and claws.

    They were . . . iguanas?

    It may have looked like it was raining reptiles. But iguanas weren’t actually falling from the clouds. They were, however, tumbling out of trees. Why? This can happen when it gets too cold, says Ron Magill. He’s an animal expert at the Miami zoo. 

    Last winter, temperatures dropped to as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit in some parts of South and Central Florida. Normally, the average low temperatures there are in the 50s and 60s. “When you have temperatures going that low, an iguana’s body shuts down,” says Magill. Once the reptile’s muscles stop working, it can’t move. The result is a frozen iguana. 

    Suddenly, these lizards fall off branches and lie still on the ground. This can shock the animals. In rare cases, it can kill them. But most of the frozen iguanas will be fine. In fact, experts say their bodies will begin to warm back up in just a few hours.

    It may have looked like it was raining reptiles. But iguanas were not falling from the clouds. They were falling out of trees. Why? This can happen when it gets too cold, says Ron Magill. He’s an animal expert at the Miami zoo.

    Last winter, temperatures dropped as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of South and Central Florida. Normally, the average low temperatures there are in the 50s and 60s. “When you have temperatures going that low, an iguana’s body shuts down,” says Magill. Once the reptile’s muscles stop working, it can’t move. The result is a frozen iguana.

    These lizards fall off branches and lie still on the ground. The fall can shock them. It can even kill them. But most will be fine. Experts say their bodies will start to warm back up in just a few hours.

    Although it may have looked like it was raining reptiles, iguanas weren’t actually falling from the clouds. They were, however, tumbling out of trees. This can happen when it gets too cold, explains Ron Magill, an animal expert at the Miami zoo.

    Last winter, temperatures dropped as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit in some parts of South and Central Florida. Usually, the average low temperatures there are in the 50s and 60s. “When you have temperatures going that low, an iguana’s body shuts down,” says Magill. Once the reptile’s muscles stop working, it can’t move—and the result is a frozen iguana.

    Suddenly, these lizards fall off branches and lie motionless on the ground. The fall can shock the animals and, in rare cases, even kill them. But most of the frozen iguanas will be fine. In fact, experts say their bodies will begin to warm back up in just a few hours.