Iguanas fall from trees with cold snap

[samanthajane13]

Fri Jan 4, 5:38 PM ET
 
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. - How cold was it in South Florida this week? So cold the iguanas fell from the trees.

The cold-blooded reptiles go into a deep sleep when the temperature falls into the 40s. Experts said their bodies basically shut off and they lose their grip on the tree.

But it isn't sudden death: Experts said the reptiles perk up when the temperatures rises. The iguanas turn a gray hue in the meantime.

Miami Metrozoo officials said the night cold causes the most drops.

"The worst part of the cold comes in the evening, and they literally just shut off," said Ron Magill, communications director for Miami Metrozoo. "Their bodies shut off and they lose their grip on the tree, and they start falling."

Temperatures hit the high 20s and low 30s this week in Florida during an unusual cold snap. While many of the iguanas will wake up, they could face death if low temperatures persist. Iguanas can sustain cold for between four and 10 hours before they have to wake up, Magill said.

"The populations have expanded so drastically (that) when we do experience a really good cold snap, it will kill off a lot of them," said Kenneth Krysko, a herpetologist at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. "It is a good thing. They're not native, and they're considered a nuisance."

[portal_reptiles]

think if i was there, i would be saving alot of them....lol..

[samanthajane13]

Yeah-for sure!!!

We could just put them into our winter jackets and warm them up till we got them inside a nice warm place!

[portal_reptiles]

i would like to have a BIG mean male...lol

[samanthajane13]

My nut-job daughter, Katey wants a Komodo Dragon for a pet...I can see it now-

Her walking down the street with "Fluffy" on a leash-as it picks off pitbulls and rottweillers.

And of course there's the little issue of all OUR dogs and cats being on Fluffy's menu.

No-the dragon AIN'T happening.

[Geckogal]

You should get Katey one! No more evil little yipper-dogs who bark at everything that comes within half a mile of their house lol.

[samanthajane13]

I don't think so...both of our dogs are small-medium.

Snow is a Cock-a-poo and Timmy is a Beagle.

They would probably be "Fluffy's" first meal...

[Geckogal]

ooooooh.... Nonetheless it would be pretty cool to have a Komodo Dragon.

[sprwoman1]

lol I'd love a Komodo Dragon too!, it would help keep down the stray population.   

[samanthajane13]

sprwoman1-

What's with the eggs and dragons and stuff in your signature area???

I clicked on them, and got a page that said "service unavailable".

[Geckogal]

Maybe my computers not working, but I don't even see sprwoman1's signature.

[samanthajane13]

There are 3 colored eggs-I think they're eggs-where we usually put our sigs. 

Sometimes there are dragons.

I was wondering where she got them and how she loaded them to the page.

[sprwoman1]

They are eggs, that after enough time and clicks can hatch into baby dragons, then grow up. It's cute & silly. http://dragcave.ath.cx/      Server is too busy a lot, especially at the beginning of the hour, when eggs are available.

[samanthajane13]

Thanks-they're really cute!!!

[sprwoman1]

No problem. Guess I'm a sucker for dragons.