how many iguanas have been turned in

So far, the only concrete number publicly reported for this current cold snap in South Florida is that over 1,000 green iguanas were turned in to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) drop‑off sites in a single day during the historic late‑January/early‑February 2026 cold front.

Quick Scoop: How many iguanas have been turned in?

During the recent cold snap, green iguanas became “cold‑stunned,” dropping from trees and sidewalks across South Florida, which led FWC to temporarily allow the public to collect and bring them to designated facilities. News outlets covering the event report that:

• At one FWC facility in Tequesta, about 600 iguanas were dropped off on Sunday , with more than 350 additional iguanas by early Monday afternoon at the same site, including 140 gathered by Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation staff.

• Another report on the same cold event notes that “1,000+ iguanas” were turned in to FWC in one day across South Florida offices, as people took advantage of the temporary rules to bring in cold‑stunned animals.

• Officials describe “hundreds” more iguanas arriving at other FWC offices, and they expect the final tally to keep rising as the cold‑weather order runs its course.

Put simply: we know at least in the low thousands of iguanas have already been turned in during this event, with 1,000+ documented in a single day, but there is no finalized, statewide total yet.

Why are so many iguanas being turned in?

Green iguanas in Florida are considered an invasive species that damage infrastructure, native vegetation, and even sea walls and levees. When temperatures plunge, they enter a torpor‑like state, lose muscle control, and literally fall from trees, which makes them unusually easy to capture.

Authorities responded by:

• Issuing a special executive order temporarily allowing people to collect and transport live iguanas without a permit to specific FWC drop‑off points.

• Asking residents not to “rescue” them as pets but instead bring them to official sites, where most will be humanely euthanized as part of invasive‑species control.

This is part of a broader trend: around the world, governments are ramping up action on invasive iguanas, such as Taiwan reporting a record 260,000 green iguanas culled in 2025 , triple its 2024 total.

Mini FAQ and viewpoints

Is there an official, final number yet?
Not yet. Reports talk about “hundreds” at specific offices and “1,000+ in one day” region‑wide, but they do not give a completed total for the whole cold event.

Why not just relocate them instead of euthanizing?
Wildlife managers argue that relocating invasive species just moves the problem and risks spreading disease, so many programs favor humane euthanasia over relocation.

What are people saying online?
Forum and social media discussions are split: some Floridians see iguana round‑ups as necessary pest control, while reptile keepers and animal‑welfare advocates worry about suffering and push for stricter standards of humane treatment.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.