Weird Beasts: The Iguanas Are Falling! by Chris Perridas

In the recent cold snap of 6 January 2010, an old urban legend came to reality.

 Record lows across South Florida literally froze tree iguanas into hibernation, and they began to tumble out of trees by the thousands. 

 Even a local TV station recorded it!

 (Click image above to view)

Consulting scientists said this suicidal lizard behavior is normal, as the cold blooded reptiles’ systems shut down below 40 degrees (<5 C).

While the iguanas appeared dead, experts said they’re fine and will recover.

It didn’t go so well for a poacher, however.   Perhaps a potential candidate for a Darwin Awards. The man went through golf courses and parks loading frozen iguanas into his station wagon – probably to sell to pet stores.  Since it was cold, he naturally had his heater blasting away and the iguanas woke up out of hibernation and began to crawl all over him as he was driving.  It did appear that the driver and the iguanas survived the resulting car crash.