The Floridian adds another odd honor to its growing resume.
A historic cold front swept through the state over the weekend, bringing record low temperatures and many, many Frozen green iguana.
On Sunday, February 1, a Florida influencer named Stackz took to social media to educate the public and stay warm under a pile of (mostly) frozen reptiles in a parking lot. In his Instagram caption, he called it “the world’s first iguana blanket.” He may not be wrong.
Watch video of Florida man lying under pile of frozen iguanas
“It used to be 30 degrees, now it’s 100 degrees. They keep me warm,” he said in the video, which has been viewed more than 5 million times. At the end of the video, he tells viewers that he didn’t kill the iguanas, they were frozen.
Where do iguanas live in Florida?
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, iguanas are common along the Atlantic coast of Broward County, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties on the Treasure Coast (home of Mar-a-Lago), and along the Gulf Coast of Collier and Lee counties in Southwest Florida.
However, iguana sightings have occurred over the years in Alachua, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River and St. Lucie counties on Florida’s Treasure Coast.
How cold is too cold for an iguana?
Iguanas thrive in Florida’s warm climate and often sleep in trees.
When temperatures drop below freezing, into the 30s or 40s, they slow down or become immobile. The freezing temperature is below 32 degrees. They stiffen up and lose their grip on the branches – hence the term “fallen iguana”.
Frozen iguanas can remain paralyzed on the ground for hours until the weather warms enough for their blood to melt. The paralysis effect is temporary.
Where to find iguanas (and frozen iguanas) in Florida?
Iguanas are found along canals, in bushes, culverts, drainage pipes, rock piles and the occasional golf course. When the weather gets cold enough for “frozen iguanas,” people are likely to find the petrified reptiles on sidewalks and sometimes even on pool decks.
Got a bunch of frozen iguanas? See FWC order
Following the cold front, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued an executive order on January 30 temporarily allowing the transport of invasive species without a permit to five designated FWC sites in South Florida.
Five drop-off locations will also be open Monday, February 2, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., including:
-
FWC South Florida Regional Laboratory, 2796 Overseas Highway 119, Marathon, FL 33050
-
FWC Office, 10052 NW 53rd Street, Sunrise, FL 33351
-
FWC Tequesta Field Laboratory, 19100 SE Federal Highway (US 1), Tequesta, FL 33469
-
FWC Enforcement Office, 2423 Edwards Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33901
-
FWC Southwest Regional Office, 3900 Drane Field Road, Lakeland, FL 33811.
How to Dispose of Frozen Iguanas
Technically, these creatures will thaw once the weather warms up, so there’s no need to actually touch a frozen iguana and you can just leave them alone.
However, if you encounter a frozen iguana outside your home, on a sidewalk or road, and you would like to help, here are some tips from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as of November 10, 2025:
-
If you encounter a cold, stunned green iguana, do not bring it into your home, vehicle or building. Non-native green iguanas are wild animals and may become defensive once they recover and become warmer.
-
Green iguanas were added to Florida’s prohibited list on April 29, 2021, and people are not allowed to possess live green iguanas without a permit. Because they are not native to Florida, it is illegal to release or relocate captured iguanas.
-
Like all non-native invasive species, iguanas are not protected in Florida except under anti-cruelty laws. They can be captured and humanely killed at any time on private property with the landowner’s permission. Captured iguanas cannot be relocated and released elsewhere in Florida.
-
If you want to remove green iguanas from your property but are unable to remove them safely and humanely, contact a professional wildlife control operator.
-
For more information about green iguanas, including technical assistance for homeowners (including techniques to deter iguanas from frequenting your property) and a list of professional wildlife control operators, visit myfwc.com.
Contributor: Kim Miller, The Palm Beach Post
This article originally appeared in The Palm Beach Post: Frozen iguana covers Florida man. watch video
