what temp do iguanas freeze

Iguanas don't truly "freeze" like ice forms, but they enter a state called cold-stunning or torpor when air temperatures drop too low for their cold- blooded systems. This makes them sluggish, immobile, and prone to falling from trees, especially in places like Florida where invasive green iguanas thrive.

Key Temperature Thresholds

• Around 50°F (10°C): Iguanas start getting lethargic and sluggish, losing grip strength and coordination.

• Below mid-40s°F (about 7°C): They become fully cold-stunned, appearing "frozen" or dead but still breathing faintly as a survival mechanism.

• 30s-40s°F prolonged (with no sun): Risk of death rises from predation, infections, or vehicles while they're helpless on the ground. Larger iguanas tolerate it better briefly.

Why This Happens

These reptiles rely on external heat (basking in the sun) to function, so cold snaps overwhelm them quickly. In Florida's occasional chills—like the 2025 arctic blasts—videos of tumbling iguanas go viral, turning backyards into odd spectacles. They recover if temps rebound above 50°F soon, often burrowing or hiding near warm water for insulation.

Imagine a hefty 5-foot iguana perched high, suddenly too stiff to hold on—plop! —right onto a Miami driveway, only to thaw and scamper off later. It's nature's dramatic reset button.

Factor| Effect on Iguanas| Example from Florida Events
---|---|---
50°F| Sluggish, sleepy| Early warning; still climbable but wobbly 3
45°F| Cold-stunned, fall risk| Common in 2025 cold fronts; predators feast 67
Below 40°F extended| High mortality| 2010 freeze killed many; 2025 repeats noted 19
Size| Bigger = tougher| Adults (up to 20 lbs) last longer than juveniles 5

Recent Trends & Context

As of late 2025, Florida saw multiple iguana drops during record colds, like November's plunge spotting frozen ones in Boca Raton. Forums buzz with "iguana rain" jokes, but experts from FWC and Zoo Miami stress they're nonnative pests—removal helps locals. No major 2026 events yet, but watch for winter snaps.

TL;DR: Iguanas "freeze" (cold-stun) below 45-50°F, falling helplessly until warmup—fun to watch, deadly if prolonged.

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