Iguanas are falling out of the sky in Southwest Florida, and it’s all because of the cold weather. When temperatures drop, these creatures enter a state known as cold-stunning.
Ellen Purdy experienced this firsthand when she heard a loud “thunk” on her driveway.
“It sounded almost like a rubber duck falling with concrete in it. It was such a loud thunk,” said Ellen Purdy.
The iguana, which fell from a tree, was not dead but simply taking an unplanned nap.
“It’s just so weird how his hands are. He has been clenched like this since he fell out of the tree; he must’ve been frozen up there already, so when he fell, he must’ve been already comatose,” said Purdy.
Cold-stunning causes iguanas’ bodies to slow down and muscles to freeze, leading them to fall from their perches.
“I’ve been down here since 1977, and I’ve never seen one this close,” said Purdy.
She marveled at the up-close view of the scales, claws, and the spikes down its spine.
“Even living on the water, we see some strange things but have never seen an iguana like this before. So, this is a first, maybe the last, but this first time I’ve ever seen one, you know, so now I’m one of the people who has a falling iguana story,” she said.
She even named the iguana “Iggy” and explained, “Iggy is lying on my driveway and waiting to wake up when it gets above 50 and the sun gets on them.”
Her husband, Glen Purdy, took the opportunity to measure the iguana.
“It’s about three feet long, and it’s got little sharp claws on it. It appears to be capable of causing harm to a person or creature if it were to. I think they’re mostly timid and would run away. Though,” said Glen Purdy.
This was a first-time experience for the Purdys.
“I have never seen an iguana fall out of the sky. That’s really something. So this is a first. This is a first,” said Glen Purdy.
Ellen Purdy shared her concerns about the possibility of more iguanas falling.
“I was afraid that there was another one up there. It’s going to come down and hit the head. That’ll be a great story for the day, because now, how did you go to the hospital? An iguana fell out of the tree,” said Purdy.
Residents in Southwest Florida should not panic if they encounter a cold-stunned iguana like Iggy. These creatures will eventually warm up in the sun and become active again.