The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued an executive order Friday allowing people “to remove live, cold-stunned green iguanas<\/a> from the wild without a permit.”<\/p>\n Under the provisions of the order, anyone can bring the cold-stunned iguanas to five designated FWC offices on Sunday and Monday, “no permit required, to be humanely killed or, in some cases, transferred to permittees for live animal sales.”<\/p>\n FLIGHTS GROUNDED AND EVENTS CANCELED AS DANGEROUS DEEP FREEZE GRIPS UNEXPECTED PARTS OF US<\/a><\/p>\n Iguanas are an invasive species in Florida that can, according to the FWC, “cause damage to residential and commercial landscape vegetation and are often considered a nuisance by property owners.”<\/p>\n However, when temperatures dip into the 40s or below, these cold-blooded reptiles lose the ability to move their muscles \u2014 they’ve been known to fall from trees, appearing dead. Yet they’re very much alive, just in a state of paralysis, or torpor.<\/p>\n Cold-stunned iguanas may look dead, but they’re just in a state of shock. (Cristobal Herrera\/South Florida Sun Sentinel\/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)<\/p>\n South Florida was forecast to have its coldest temperatures since 2010 on Sunday morning, according to Fox Weather.<\/a><\/p>\n “When collecting live, cold-stunned green iguanas for removal, members of the public should wear protective gloves, pants and long-sleeved shirts to protect themselves from potential scratches,” the FWC said in a news release announcing its executive order.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n “The iguanas must be contained in a secure, escape-proof, cloth sack or bag. Only cloth sacks or bags may be used for primary containment to ensure breathability \u2014 and they must be securely closed shut.”<\/p>\n These bags should then be placed “into a second secure, locked transport container” that is labeled “Prohibited Reptiles,” according to the FWC.<\/p>\n The FWC says residents can take advantage of Florida’s freeze by transporting cold-stunned green iguanas to one of its facilities, no permit required, to be euthanized. (Saul Martinez\/Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Residents were urged to transport captured iguanas to the FWC “immediately to limit the likelihood of the iguanas regaining their ability to move freely.”<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES<\/a><\/p>\n “Once transport has begun, collection bags or sacks must remain closed or sealed until they are transferred to FWC staff,” the FWC said.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Iguanas can recover from cold-stunning more quickly than you might expect.”<\/p>\n “This is to both keep the iguanas from escaping into a new location and to prevent the iguanas from getting loose in your vehicle<\/a> if they start to recover from torpor.”<\/p>\n Iguanas were first reported in South Florida in the 1960s and have thrived in the state’s warm climate, according to the FWC.<\/p>\n A green iguana enjoys fresh leafy greens. These reptiles have thrived in Florida’s generally warm climate. (iStock)<\/p>\n They also “breed like rabbits” and threaten native wildlife and plants<\/a>, said Darcie Arahill, a Florida-based angler and content creator of Darcizzle Offshore YouTube videos that teach the art of fishing.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n Arahill previously told Fox News Digital that she uses a bow and arrow to hunt and kill them<\/a>, which is permitted in Florida. She’s harvested them and posted YouTube videos about how to cook them.<\/p>\n She said the tail is the “best part,” but the bigger the lizard, the\u00a0more meat\u00a0there is on the legs.<\/p>\n Green iguanas are an invasive species that threaten Florida’s native wildlife and plants. (iStock)<\/p>\n She likes to boil iguana meat in water with potatoes and carrots<\/a>, almost like a stew, “to the point where the meat just falls off the bone.”<\/p>\n The FWC cautioned the public that anyone encountering a cold-stunned iguana “should never bring it into your home or building to warm up, and never put it into your vehicle unless specifically transporting [it] to the FWC” under the executive order.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/cold-stunned-iguana.jpg\")
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