‘Iguana rain’: Why are animals falling out of trees in America?

Residents and tourists who spent New Year’s Eve in cities in Florida, USA encountered a very strange scene: Iguanas falling from trees. Many of them are even afraid of being attacked by reptiles.

A common occurrence in winter, “iguana rain” It has already happened in other years, but according to reports on social networks, the number of cases was higher by the end of 2022. And the explanation for the increase is simple: The A severe cold wave has gripped North America in recent days.

Generally, even during the coldest season of the year in Florida, temperatures are not as low as those recorded in other parts of the country. However, the historic weather event that dropped thermometers at Christmas also reached the southeastern part of the US territory.

(Source: Shutterstock)

In Miami, the minimum temperature on December 25 was 6°C, which is quite unusual for a sunny beach city. According to the local weather service, this The coldest Christmas ever officially recorded by the company.

Why do iguanas fall from trees?

Like humans, iguanas are affected Historic Cold Wave Hits Florida. Cold blooded animalsThey can enter Temporary freeze status The same thing happens in other reptiles – when exposed to low temperatures.

In addition, certain functions of the nervous system are put on “standby mode” to preserve the heat of the vital organs of the body. If the iguana were sleeping in a tree, at the moment of paralysis it would lose muscle control and fall down, seemingly lifeless.

Iguanas become aggressive upon awakening from hibernation. (Source: Shutterstock)

It is noteworthy that most of them, found in this region of America, belong to countries with a warm climate in South and Central America. Therefore, animals need to stimulate survival mechanism Cope with the icy winds of the station.

Another curious detail is that these reptiles can reach 1.8 meters in length and in some cases weigh more than 15 kg. That means if they hit a person or a car when a tree falls, depending on the height, they can cause some damage.

“Don’t Take It Home”

worry about Animals in lethargy Falling to the ground, dead, some people chose to carry the fallen reptile home or into their car in an attempt to warm it up. But that’s not a good idea.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Iguanas recover quickly from hibernation And Get defensive When they return to normal. During this time, they can use their tail, teeth and sharp claws against anyone they catch.