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Earth Idle

Florida is So Cold Iguanas are Falling Out of Trees 110

Posted by EditorDavid from the watch-for-falling-iguanas dept.
"The U.S. National Weather Service Miami-South Florida warned the public on Sunday that immobilised iguanas could fall out of trees," reports Reuters, "due to unusual cold temperatures across the region. "Iguanas are cold-blooded. They slow down or become immobile when temps drop into the 40s (4-9 Celsius). They may fall from trees, but they are not dead," the service said on Twitter.

Temperatures in South Florida reached a low of 25 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service, and high temperatures on Sunday were expected to remain in the upper 50s to low 60s.... Although most of the reptiles will likely survive this period of immobilisation, zoologist Stacey Cohen, a reptile expert at Palm Beach Zoo in Florida, said freezing temperatures were a threat to their survival and pointed to a cold snap in 2010 that wiped out a large number of the population.
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Florida is So Cold Iguanas are Falling Out of Trees More

Florida is So Cold Iguanas are Falling Out of Trees

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  • Sell your stocks, folks, Old Man Winter has a special on IguanaPops!

    • Time for spring I say!
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by dbialac ( 320955 )
      What's funny is how in 2010, they weren't complaining about them dying and were doing everything they could to encourage their deaths because iguanas are not native to Florida.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by GoTeam ( 5042081 )
        Whims are wild!
      • I thought I heard that iguana meat was pretty tasty?

        Seems like someone could gather this easy meat off the ground where. they fall and maybe make some gumbo, or iguana sauce piquant..?

        • When you have a bumper crop then you get busy with the canning. Not sure why this is called canning when they go into mason jars, but...

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by dryeo ( 100693 )

            Got me curious, from https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki... [wiktionary.org]

            From Middle English canne, from Old English canne (“glass, container, cup, can”), from Proto-Germanic *kann (“can, tankard, mug, cup”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *gan-, *gand- (“a vessel”). Cognate with Scots can (“can”), West Frisian kanne (“a jug, pitcher”), Dutch kan (“pot, mug”), German Kanne (“can, tankard, mug”), Danish kande (“can, mug, a measure

    • Oh no, this happened 12 years ago too. Shocking how the weather works.

  • Eagerly await (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward
    "Florida man dies from Iguana impact to head."
  • Get a snow machine and pump snow into the waterways that have a problem. Then you have handbag material and dog food. Or a jet heater on one side against a trap or projectile backstop. Gomer Pile would know what to do,

  • Pythons (Score:3, Interesting)

    by backslashdot ( 95548 ) on Monday January 31, 2022 @05:23AM (#62222959)

    What about the pythons? How are they doing? My understanding is that these chills are not enough to extinctize them, but do provide enough selection pressure such that the cold resistant genes are preserved, propagated, and shared amongst the surviving python population. This would enable these freeze-resistant python strains to migrate north into Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana. They will survive in the Mississippi delta and will become a new species called Delta pythons.

  • to deliver bad news in an amusing way.

  • Lizard people ... (Score:4, Funny)

    by Freischutz ( 4776131 ) on Monday January 31, 2022 @06:22AM (#62223037)

    "Iguanas are cold-blooded. They slow down or become immobile when temps drop into the 40s (4-9 Celsius).

    Anybody here from Florida? ... Is DeSantis still moving?

    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Yes. Into the White House in 2024.

    • "Iguanas are cold-blooded. They slow down or become immobile when temps drop into the 40s (4-9 Celsius).

      Anybody here from Florida? ... Is DeSantis still moving?

      Oh, he's moving alright ... from success to success. While the people who hate him keep falling on their faces to the tune of Yakety Sax :)

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        by serviscope_minor ( 664417 )

        Oh, he's moving alright ... from success to success.

        Just FYI, other people generally mean "success" as a governor, not success in using the governor's position for personal gain.

      • "Iguanas are cold-blooded. They slow down or become immobile when temps drop into the 40s (4-9 Celsius).

        Anybody here from Florida? ... Is DeSantis still moving?

        Oh, he's moving alright ... from success to success. While the people who hate him keep falling on their faces to the tune of Yakety Sax :)

        Oh, that must be the funeral anthem for the anti-vaxxers De Santis has managed to put six feet under in Florida. I'd hate him as well if his anti-vaxx bullshit had killed me.

      • So is Florida outside Disney World and some beaches no longer a shithole swamp?

  • I have read that ALL species of iguana in Florida are invasive species. The most annoying being the Green Iguana. Perhaps this will help put their booming populations in check.So... at least regarding invasive species this is not such a bad thing. Unfortunately it probably isn't great for many native critters either.

  • Everyone complains about the weather... (Score:4, Informative)

    by MacMann ( 7518492 ) on Monday January 31, 2022 @08:01AM (#62223113)

    Many things have been attributed as original to Mark Twain but he's been known to repeat catchy phrases from others, one such example being, "Everyone complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it."

    We see yet another example of people complaining about the weather but no mention of what to do about it. If the problem is in fact global warming caused by additional CO2 in the atmosphere from humans burning fossil fuels then we have subject matter experts that tell us what we can do about it. We can shift our energy production to hydro, onshore wind, geothermal, and nuclear fission. We can do carbon capture and sequestration. Part of both goals can be reached with hydrocarbon synthesis. Using heat and electricity from nuclear fission we can produce hydrocarbon fuels, for near net zero CO2 transportation fuel, and produce asphalt, a carbon sequestering building material. Additional carbon sequestration can be achieved by use of wood as a building material and then land filling that wood at the end of useful life of the products. There are advocates of mining basalt for carbon capture in making cement, a source of industrial and agricultural lime, and as aggregate in concrete and environmental engineering projects. The basalt will react with CO2 in the air, capturing it as limestone, at a much higher rate as a result of mining it and increasing surface area.

    We can take these actions to solve global warming, assuming it has not already been solved with existing technologies coming to market. If the wind and solar advocates are to be believed then we have renewable energy that is lower cost than fossil fuels, electric cars with a lower TCO than dinosaur burners, and the ability to produce sufficient on grid battery storage to keep streetlamps and refrigerators running when the sun isn't shining and the wind not blowing. I agree with these people that we solved global warming, only I disagree on how it was done. I believe those that say we need hydro and nuclear fission to solve the problem. With the public supporting nuclear power, both major political parties supporting nuclear power, and deep pocketed investors putting money into nuclear power, we see global warming solved.

    I've been told that weather is not climate, and I agree, but I equated the to so I could put in the humorous Mark Twain observation.

    • Who's complaining? Iguanas falling off trees have a comedic value that would not have been lost on Mark Twain.

      What's more, my understanding is that unless the species is part of a very particular biotope with a very finely tuned food chain that absolutely requires its presence for other species to survive, or it is itself endangered, lizards of all kinds are pretty much just a nuisance wherever they might be. So a little bit of natural culling in Florida won't do anybody any harm.

      • >

        What's more, my understanding is that unless the species is part of a very particular biotope with a very finely tuned food chain that absolutely requires its presence for other species to survive, or it is itself endangered, lizards of all kinds are pretty much just a nuisance wherever they might be. So a little bit of natural culling in Florida won't do anybody any harm.

        Those little ones are damned cute though.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by q_e_t ( 5104099 )

      I believe those that say we need hydro and nuclear fission to solve the problem.

      And wind and solar, without wind and solar?

      • I followed the link and got a 403 error. Here's an idea, use your words. It's like seeing my brother deal with his screaming daughter, he had to remind her to use her words to describe the problem so someone could help.

        It's generally considered bad form to post a link on a forum without some description of what one should expect to see by following the link. A big reason for this is because it is quite possible the link will be broken. By adding some words, perhaps a short clip of the text off the linke

    • We can do carbon capture and sequestration. Part of both goals can be reached with hydrocarbon synthesis.

      There's no practical way to do carbon capture and sequestration at this time. We need new technology.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by saider ( 177166 )

        Carbon sequestration idea
        1. Grow and harvest trees (pine grows pretty quick)
        2. Chop trees and bundle them
        3. Bury bundle in a river delta

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by dryeo ( 100693 )

          As a bonus, it'll also sequester a bunch of other nutrients therefore preventing the growth of those trees that block the view.

      • There's no practical way to do carbon capture and sequestration at this time. We need new technology.

        I've read a number of papers written by people with doctorate degrees that claim there are a number of existing practical ways to sequester carbon, so why should I believe you that we need some new technology first?

        • I've read a number of papers written by people with doctorate degrees that claim there are a number of existing practical ways to sequester carbon

          Cite one. There are methods to sequester carbon of course, but no scientists are claiming they are practical (yet).

          • Cite one.

            No.

            [rant]
            I was about to go find some sources for you but decided against it. I'm getting a bit tired of having to type things into search engines for sources to defend my point when so many people on Slashdot refuse to do the same for me. I realize you may not be one of these frustrating characters, it's not like I keep a log of who refused my request for citations in the past, but carbon sequestration is a subject that has been covered by many science and technology sites since the creation of the intern

            • If you really really want me to cite a paper on practical carbon sequestration techniques then cite something that says carbon sequestration is not practical and I'll think about it.

              https://news.stanford.edu/2019... [stanford.edu]

              Among many other sources easily found by a search engine.

    • Re:Everyone complains about the weather... (Score:4, Informative)

      by SumDog ( 466607 ) on Monday January 31, 2022 @11:10AM (#62223557) Homepage Journal

      This is catastrophizing. This particular event likely has nothing to do with "Climate Change" (at least outside of the standard ice age cycle that's been on Earth for millions of years). It snowed in Florida 10 years ago. There was a record high winter for like 70F in Chicago back in the 20s. These types of weather events happen in cycles. That's why we have terms like "the 100 year flood."

      It does snow in Florida, although the last time was, as the article states, back in 2010. On top of that, the US has been reducing CO2 emissions substantially.

      I personally think the focus on CO2 is fucking horrific. There are so many other forms of pollution destroying our planet. The lakes of sludge outside factory cities in China and the South Pacific, the heaps of fishing boat trash in our oceans, African junk workers that smelter e-waste unsafely, the plastic in our oceans, the declining fish population caused not by temperature, but over-fishing.

      Making products that cost more, but last longer or have an upgrade path, with full loop recycling .. consuming less but more value .. that will help fix a lot of our consumption issues AND as a byproduct it will reduce ALL emissions, not just CO2. CO2 has the end goal is the wrong focus for environmentalism.

  • what should you do ? Leave it alone, put it back in the tree, put it somewhere else, ... ?

    Cook it for supper maybe - anyone got a recipe ?

  • One website says iguanas can grow to 20 pounds and six feet. Latest fashion trend: Iguana Helmets

  • Since iguanas are invasive to Florida, whenever someone sees them falling out of trees, they should kill them while they have the chance. Hammer. Knife. Run them over with your car. Whatever you have handy. They are destructive and don't belong there. Kill them all. The wreak havoc on the ecosystem, displacing and out competing native species. They are an infestation that, with a little help from a few cold snaps, might be better controlled.
    • Was thinking the same thing. This is an opportunity to get em while they are vulnerable, like when the boss is immobilized in a game or something.
  • Here from Florida. This has happened very regularly every year since the iguanas arrived. Definitely not the first time.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by SumDog ( 466607 )

      Yea, it does occasionally get cold in Florida. I remember when it snowed ten years ago, the joke was, "Wait, do people in Miami even own jackets?"

      • Don't laugh. 10 years ago, I went to Chicago in February for a business trip... and realized the night before while packing that I'd accidentally left my coat somewhere a few years earlier & never noticed its absence. I ended up having to rely on a long-sleeve t-shirt, a sweater, and a hoodie for my first half-day in 17-degree (Fahrenheit) Chicago until I made it to a Sports Authority store to buy a real coat... which I've worn exactly two times since. My coworkers thought it was hilarious.

        Insulation-wi

        • When I lived in Winnipeg, I'd just add layers under my windproof jacket (tshirt, shirt, wool sweater) plus adding a toque until it got to about -10 or -15 C. That's when I would switch to an actual winter jacket. The parka would come out at -25 to -30 (or when I had to be outside a long time rather than just driving around places). And FWIW, they can get up to +40C in summer.

        • How did people "up north" survive before GoreTex?

          Waxed fabrics and hides/skins.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by dryeo ( 100693 )

          How did people "up north" survive before GoreTex?

          By staying dry, something that GoreTex fails at after wearing a few times.
          Wool, oil skins, animal skins were common. I still mostly wear a Stanfield for the rain, with an oil skin if really wet.
          https://www.stanfields.com/col... [stanfields.com]

    • Here from Florida. This has happened very regularly every year since the iguanas arrived. Definitely not the first time.

      Exactly. January can be pretty rough in Florida. I mean, not as rough as in say, Minnesota, but the people will complain more per every degree below 50F 10C or 273.15K than anyone else on earth.

      • It's because we utterly lack the infrastructure to deal with it. God forbid, if it ever snowed "for real" (and didn't all melt away by noon) in Miami or Naples, the cities would be paralyzed & shut down, because no city south of Jacksonville has snow-removal equipment.

        Also, we lack furnaces, and almost nobody has a heat pump (just normal A/C with 8kW-16kW heat coils). Most of us react to 'cold' by letting the a/c just not cycle on because it's colder than the setpoint. Back in ~2012, I made the mistake

        • It's because we utterly lack the infrastructure to deal with it. God forbid, if it ever snowed "for real" (and didn't all melt away by noon) in Miami or Naples, the cities would be paralyzed & shut down, because no city south of Jacksonville has snow-removal equipment.

          Also, we lack furnaces, and almost nobody has a heat pump (just normal A/C with 8kW-16kW heat coils). Most of us react to 'cold' by letting the a/c just not cycle on because it's colder than the setpoint. Back in ~2012, I made the mistake of going to work with the heat off when it was ~48F outside & 70F inside. I came home when it was 36F & dropping outside, 64F inside, and the heat coils in the A/C couldn't stop the temperature from falling another 2 degreee before SLOWLY getting the house back up to ~65F around dawn.

          I've literally gone 2-3 years at a time without using the heat for anything besides an hour before getting up to make getting out of bed easier.

          One interesting thing I've seen about Southern Snow removal equipment is that a lot of it is low mileage and pretty vintage. Something bought back in the 1950's, and still in really good shape. Up here in PA, most of our stuff is pretty new, with the exception of those huge rotary snow blowers used to clear drifts. Some of those are really old, but I haven't seen one out in years. We just don't get much snow any more, we've replaced some of that with freezing rain.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by dryeo ( 100693 )

          Had the opposite here in BC, as the temperatures cracked 40C (104F), people were dropping dead like flies (500 dead) as who the hell has air conditioning. Usually just open the windows at night and close them during the day and curse those couple of days where it is over 80F.
          Snow isn't much better as even with an average of a foot or so a year, everyone seems to forget how to drive in it. It's that wet and slushy snow too.

  • My understanding is they taste like chicken and the ones you find in the park are free.

    Kill them before you put the trunk. Blunt force trauma to the brain, i.e. hit them in the head with a stick with roughly the same force as driving a 16 penny nail.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by hey! ( 33014 )

      Humanely killing an active iguana is challenging, and if you botch it you can be charged under Florida's animal cruelty laws. If you kill by blunt force you are essentially required to to do it with a single blow.

      I'm a catch and release fisherman, but when a fish is hurt and won't survive I use what animal lab researchers call "pithing"; I insert a sharpened ice pick into the fish's brain to destroy it. This would work with iguanas too. Otherwise to get a one shot kill I'd use a hammer and some kind o

      • Excellent point. Killing by blunt force is always a tricky business, particularly when you're new at it. We have a natural instinct to hesitancy that works against a clean job. To overcome that, overkill is definitely preferred. The goal should be to drive the hammer straight through the critter leaving absolutely no doubt about it whatsoever. It's messier, but it's not a job for finesse.

        I wouldn't consider decapitation an option at all. Maybe one person in 100 has a sharp knife, machete, or axe suite

  • Iguanasicle

  • Not only in Florida, but nationwide.

  • We used to live in the llanos (like savanna) of Colombia. Never got below 60 or 65 if I remember. Nevertheless, iguanas fell out of trees. And they were big--maybe 3 or 4 feet long.

  • It happens about every 3-5 years. Yes, the orange crop gets ruined, but Florida Wildlife officials have the opportunity to thin the herd of feral pythons and iguanas.

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