Thousands of Cold-Stunned Iguanas Collected in Florida

Florida wildlife officials gathered over 5,200 invasive reptiles during a two-day drop-off program.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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In response to an Arctic blast that caused iguanas to become temporarily immobilized, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set up collection sites across South Florida where residents and municipal workers dropped off over 5,200 cold-stunned iguanas over two days. The iguanas were humanely euthanized as part of the state's efforts to remove the invasive species from natural landscapes.

Why it matters

Iguanas have become a costly nuisance in South Florida, damaging infrastructure, eating landscaping, and defecating in pools. This collection effort allowed officials to quickly remove thousands of the invasive reptiles while they were incapacitated by the cold weather, supporting local governments in their efforts to manage the iguana population.

The details

FWC issued an executive order on January 30th announcing the collection program, which included five drop-off sites in South Florida that were open on February 1st and 2nd. Residents and municipal workers, including Palm Beach County parks and recreation employees, brought in the iguanas, with the county collecting between 400-500 on Sunday alone. The iguanas were required to be brought in within 24 hours of being caught and were held in cloth bags and sealed containers for transport.

  • On January 30th, FWC issued an executive order announcing the iguana collection program.
  • The collection sites were open on February 1st and 2nd.
  • Temperatures in the 30s were measured as far south as Homestead on February 1st and 2nd, with overnight lows of 30 degrees in West Palm Beach.

The players

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

The state agency that oversees wildlife management in Florida, including efforts to remove invasive species like iguanas.

Steven Hudson

FWC Vice Chairman who announced the collection tally of over 5,200 iguanas.

Jennifer Cirillo

Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Director who said the county collected between 400-500 iguanas on Sunday.

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What they’re saying

“The extreme cold weather created a rare opportunity to safely and effectively remove iguanas while they were temporary incapacitated. These actions resulted in the removal of invasive species from Florida's natural landscapes while supporting local, county and municipal governments in their communities.”

— Steven Hudson, FWC Vice Chairman

“Typically, we would hire trappers but this is such a good opportunity to have our staff do it and it really is a cost savings to us, which is great. We are grateful FWC recognized this opportunity to make a dent.”

— Jennifer Cirillo, Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Director

The takeaway

This collection effort demonstrates Florida's ongoing battle against invasive species like iguanas, which pose significant environmental and economic threats. By quickly removing thousands of cold-stunned iguanas, officials were able to make substantial progress in managing this problematic invasive population.