Florida currently has a problem, an iguana problem.

A cold snap struck the south bringing rare temperature to the states; Florida was hit with temperatures reaching the low 30’s, almost never seen in the sunshining state. However strange the weather another oddity hit the state. Falling iguanas.

These iguanas are cold blooded, so when the temperature dropped so did their body temperature, and when their internal temperature reaches 50 degrees, they reach a torpor like state or cold stunned, where they lose muscle movement and reach a temporarily paralyzed state. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reported collecting nearly 5,200 cold-stunned iguanas over two days, and residents collected even more.

However, this isn’t entirely a bad thing; the invasive green iguana has been a thorn in Florida’s side for years, the rapid growing populations effacing the native plants and animals along with state infrastructure. These reptiles aren’t protected by any law or hunting regulation with the exception of the anti-cruelty law. This allows Florida residents to humanly kill and hunt the iguana year-round.

Many of the iguanas that were collected recovered and were placed in wildlife reserves and sanctuaries, and many Floridians have stated that falling iguana is the new sign of cold weather, reminding us of the weird quirks of mother nature.