Over 5,000 Cold-Stunned Iguanas Collected in Florida During Record Freeze

State wildlife agency coordinated efforts to remove invasive green iguanas during two-day exemption period

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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More than 5,000 invasive green iguanas were captured in Florida during a recent freeze that left the reptiles cold-stunned and temporarily paralyzed on the ground. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced that 5,195 iguanas were collected and brought to designated FWC offices on February 1 and 2 during South Florida's period of record-setting cold temperatures.

Why it matters

Green iguanas are a prohibited species in Florida due to their negative impacts on the state's environment and economy. The mass collection of these invasive reptiles during the freeze helps mitigate the damage they can cause to properties and ecosystems in the region.

The details

The FWC allowed residents and visitors to capture the cold-stunned iguanas without a permit for a two-day period. Of the 5,195 iguanas collected, 3,882 were brought to the FWC's office in Sunrise, 1,075 were collected in Tequesta, 215 in the Florida Keys, and 23 in Fort Myers. The iguanas that could not be transferred to permit holders were humanely killed by trained staff.

  • On February 1 and 2, 2026, the FWC allowed a two-day exemption period for the public to capture cold-stunned iguanas without a permit.
  • On February 1, temperatures in Miami reached 35 degrees, while lows in West Palm Beach hit 30 degrees, breaking records for that date set in 1909.

The players

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

The state wildlife agency that coordinated the collection and removal of over 5,000 cold-stunned green iguanas during the recent freeze in Florida.

Roger Young

The executive director of the FWC who praised the coordinated efforts of staff and the public in removing the invasive iguanas.

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What they’re saying

“The removal of over 5,000 of these nonnative lizards in such a short time span was only possible thanks to the coordinated efforts of many staff members in multiple FWC divisions and offices, our partners and, of course, the many residents that took the time to collect and turn in cold-stunned iguanas from their properties.”

— Roger Young, Executive Director, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

What’s next

The FWC is no longer accepting live iguanas from the public, but the agency will continue to work on managing the invasive green iguana population in Florida.

The takeaway

The mass collection of over 5,000 cold-stunned green iguanas during the recent freeze in Florida demonstrates the state's ongoing efforts to mitigate the environmental and economic damage caused by this invasive species. The coordinated response between the FWC and the public highlights the importance of community involvement in addressing such ecological challenges.