Florida allows collecting iguanas without a permit during freezing cold weather

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued an executive order on Friday allowing people to “remove living organisms, Cold-stunned green iguana From the wild without a permit.”

Under the terms of the order, anyone can bring a cold-shocked iguana to five designated FWC offices on Sunday and Monday, “no permit required, to humanely kill it or, in some cases, transport it to those with a live animal sale permit.”

Flights are being grounded and events canceled as a dangerous deep freeze takes hold in unpredictable parts of the United States

Iguanas are an invasive species in Florida that, according to the FWC, can “cause damage to residential and commercial natural vegetation and are often considered a nuisance to property owners.”

However, when temperatures drop into the 40s or lower, these cold-blooded reptiles lose the ability to move their muscles and have been known to fall out of trees, looking dead. However they are largely alive, only in a state of paralysis or hibernation.

A cold-shocked iguana may appear dead, but it is only in shock. (Cristóbal Herrera/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

South Florida is expected to witness its coldest temperatures since 2010 on Sunday morning. According to Fox Weather.

“When collecting cold-injured live green iguanas for removal, members of the public should wear gloves, pants and long-sleeved shirts to protect themselves from possible scratches,” the Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a news release announcing its executive order.

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“Iguanas should be contained in a secure, escape-proof bag or cloth bag. Only cloth bags or bags may be used for initial containment to ensure ventilation – and should be tightly closed.”

Those bags must then be placed “in a second, secure, locked transport container” marked “Prohibited Reptiles,” according to the FWC.

The FWC says residents can take advantage of Florida’s freeze by transporting cold-stricken green iguanas to one of its facilities, without needing a permit, to be euthanized. (Saul Martinez/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Residents were urged to transport captured iguanas to FWC “immediately to reduce the likelihood of the iguana regaining its ability to move freely.”

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“Once transport has begun, collection bags or bags must remain sealed or sealed until transported to FWC staff,” the FWC said.

“Iguanas can recover from cold shock more quickly than you might expect.”

“This is to prevent the iguana from escaping to a new location and to prevent the iguana from breaking free In your car “If they start to recover from hibernation.”

Iguanas were first reported in South Florida in the 1960s and thrived in the state’s warm climate, according to the FWC.

Green iguanas enjoy fresh leafy vegetables. These reptiles have thrived in Florida’s generally warm climate. (Istock)

They also “multiply like rabbits” and are threatening Local wildlife and plantssaid Darcy Arahill, a Florida-based fisherman and content creator of Darcizzle Offshore YouTube videos that teach the art of fly fishing.

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Arahil previously told Fox News Digital that she uses a bow and arrow to do so Hunt and kill themIt is allowed in Florida. I harvested them and posted videos on YouTube of how to cook them.

The tail is “the best part,” she said, but the larger the lizard, the more meat it has on its legs.

The green iguana is an invasive species that threatens Florida’s wildlife and native plants. (Istock)

She likes to boil iguana meat in water Potatoes and carrotsalmost like a stew, “to the point where the meat falls off the bone.”

The FWC warned the public that anyone encountering a cold-shocked iguana “should never bring it into your home or building to keep warm, and never place it in your vehicle unless specifically transported to the FWC” under the executive order.

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“Iguanas can recover from cold shock more quickly than you might expect, and once they recover, they can act defensively, with long, whip-lashing tails and sharp teeth and claws,” the FWC said.