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Post by Debbie on Jan 5, 2008 7:25:14 GMT -1
Okay, I must admit I laughed myself silly when I read about this last night. Apparently with the cold front that's just swept through the US, it pushed down into Florida. They were experiencing temps in the upper 20s and lower 30s (so right around 0*C). And the citrus farmers are concerned for their trees.....rightly so. Iguanas, being the reptiles they are, were literally falling from the citrus trees!  Seems with the cold temps, they were falling into a stupor, losing their grip and ....plunk! I mean, can you imagine being a citrus farmer, minding your own business out there with iguanas (fairly large lizards) falling from the trees??  On a positive note, the iguanas are not native to Florida. Me personally? I'd be out there rounding them up, to revive and rehome them.  |
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Post by PonyGirl on Jan 5, 2008 9:15:29 GMT -1
O where did you read that! That is too funny. Poor iguanas!
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Post by Debbie on Jan 5, 2008 13:29:28 GMT -1
It was on Yahoo's news last night, part of a news article I'd read on the recent California storm. I've a dear friend out there who was bracing for it; pretty nasty from what I've read. Tagged onto the end was this little blipit about the iguanas. I must say it did give me a good laugh ;D I bet the citrus farmers were relieved to have them falling out of the trees as well. I think iguanas are vegetarians, so that can't be a good thing for a valuable citrus tree! |
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Post by SuzieP on Jan 5, 2008 13:59:14 GMT -1
What were they doing with the poor things when they fell - I hope they're not culling them are they?
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Post by Debbie on Jan 5, 2008 16:00:04 GMT -1
Its nothing intentional at all Sue. For Florida to get temps around 0*C is ...well, rather like Hell Freezing Over. It simply never gets that cold. The photos I saw, they were rounding them up, rewarming them in bathtubs, and placing them on heat mats. The photo I saw of the one chap he had a banana being offered. I daresay there'll be plenty of new homes for them. The hardest bit is that people tend to get bored with their iguana, and turn them loose. Florida's such a warm climate that the non native reptiles can really take over in no time flat. We see that a lot with the fish industry as well. |
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Post by SuzieP on Jan 5, 2008 18:34:16 GMT -1
Oh, that's good Debbie. Thanks for putting my mind at rest. It's when you said they were veg eaters and so would be happy in the citrus groves that I thought maybe the farmers would see them as a pest and bump them off. So glad they were getting rescued...
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Post by Debbie on Jan 6, 2008 11:05:55 GMT -1
I'm sure the farmers will be happier without 3 foot iguanas in their trees, and the iguanas will be happier living a pampered life as someone's pet. All's well that ends well
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Post by lucydales on Jan 6, 2008 12:39:07 GMT -1
3 foot!!!!!! FM!!
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Post by Debbie on Jan 6, 2008 23:27:34 GMT -1
Yeah, the average iguana is 3 foot. Some of the males can get up to five. They aren't the cute little anoles, that's why I said they can do some damage....and me personally I wouldn't want a lizard that big landing on me! ;D
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Seems with the cold temps, they were falling into a stupor, losing their grip and ....plunk! 
