Could ‘frozen iguanas’ return to Florida this winter? Here’s what would have to happen

Cold weather is in the forecast for Florida and with it comes the possibility of yet another year of falling iguanas.

With multiple freeze warnings already in place and temperatures expected to dip as low as the 30s inland and 40s on the coast, the state is experiencing an early winter chill. And while it's not likely that chill will bring a falling of snow, it can bring reptiles raining down onto the streets, pets and people of Florida.

The phenomenon happens nearly every year, but it doesn't stop the sight from being both bizarre and bothersome enough to prompt annual social media posts and questions about what to do and expect come iguana "freezing" season.

Can Floridians expect to see it raining iguanas soon? Here's what to know.

How cold does it have to get for iguanas to 'freeze?'

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), green iguanas are considered an invasive species in Florida and are not equipped to handle cold weather.

The agency says that cold-blooded creatures can become slow, sluggish or immobilized when temperatures hit between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Earlier this year, National Weather Service stations in Florida issued unofficial "falling iguana" advisories when temperatures hit around and below 45 degrees, warning residents that stunned lizards may end up on laws and sidewalks after dropping from trees.

Why do iguanas fall out of trees in cold weather?

Green iguanas are not native to Florida and are believed to have been introduced via the exotic pet trade in the 1960s. Native to the warm environments ranging from Central America to the tropical parts of South America and some eastern Caribbean islands, they usually do well in the state's humid, subtropical climate, says the FWC.

However, in the winter months, Florida's temperatures can and regularly do dip lower than is typical in the reptile's native environment. Because they are cold-blooded, or ectotherms, they rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperatures, such as warm air, sunlight and heated rock surfaces in the wild and heating lamps in captivity.

Some ectotherms that live in environments with fluctuating temperatures handle colder weather by sheltering in burrows or going dormant, like fish who become immobile at the bottom of a body of water, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

In the case of iguanas in Florida, those that appear "frozen" are not necessarily dead. In fact, it's more likely they are simply temporarily immobilized by their body's reaction to the cold and will wake up once they can warm up, though in the meantime they are more likely to fall victim to predators, infections or become roadkill.

Still, residents are advised to leave them be or call for professional removal, lest they receive a bite or other unpleasant surprise when the reptiles come to.

Michael Ronquillo, owner of Humane Iguana Control in Miami, previously told USA TODAY, "We also highly advise not bringing iguanas inside to warm up if you find them non-responsive due to cold weather, as when they wake up, it can become a nightmare in your home."

Will 'frozen' iguanas return to Florida again this year?

While a "falling iguana" warning has yet to be issued this year, both North and South Florida have already been subjected to freeze warnings and temps as low as the 20s and 30s. If early winter conditions are any indication, it's likely that Florida residents will once again spot the reptiles falling from perches and appearing frozen on lawns, sidewalks and roadways.

As of Tuesday morning, freeze warnings are in effect in Florida for areas from Ocala through Gainesville and north to Jacksonville, with temperatures in Lake City dipping to 27 degrees Wednesday morning. Over Thanksgiving weekend, areas of Northeastern Florida, the east coast of the state, parts of South and Southwest Florida and the Big Bend and Panhandle areas experienced temperatures ranging from the 50s down to the 20s.

Iguanas generally live in the southern part of the state and stretch along the Atlantic Coast in Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach Counties and along the Gulf Coast in Collier and Lee Counties, according to the FWC. While they've been spotted in counties further north, they were likely escaped or released pets, as they are "unlikely" to establish populations in these generally cooler areas.

Contributing: Kimberly Miller, Palm Beach Post.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Frozen' iguanas in Florida: How cold does it have to get?