Living in Florida has many unique challenges that cannot be found anywhere else.
One resident got the shock of his life when he saw what fell down the chimney.
And a Florida man called for help after one terrifying discovery in his fireplace.
Florida man finds green iguana in his fireplace
Green iguanas are one of the invasive species that are causing problems for the residents of Florida.
They are native to parts of Central and South America and were first spotted in Florida in the 1960s.
Male green iguanas can grow to over five feet long and can weigh up to 20 pounds.
Their population is booming in South Florida where they are routinely spotted by residents.
Green iguanas can spread disease and disrupt the ecosystem.
They are also a nuisance because they eat plants, fruits, and vegetables in people’s yards.
West Palm Beach, Florida had to spend more than one million dollars to fix the damage iguanas did burrowing near a dam.
Iguana removal companies in South Florida help residents deal with them.
Humane Iguana Control owner Michael Ronquillo has helped Floridians deal with all sorts of iguana problems.
Ronquillo told Fox News Digital that he removed “an invasive green iguana” from inside a customer’s home.
“A resident in south Florida contacted us about finding an invasive green iguana in their fire pit,” Ronquillo said.
“Uncertain what to do, they contacted Humane Iguana Control to help have it removed,” Ronquillo continued. “[I was]not surprised. Iguanas can pretty much end up anywhere.”
Iguanas can climb and swim which allows them to get just about anywhere.
“This iguana used a palm from a coconut tree to access the home’s fire pit,” Ronquillo explained.
Green iguanas can pose a danger to humans
Ronquillo noted that iguanas can carry salmonella, bacteria, and other diseases that can spread to humans.
“It’s important for residents to contact professional iguana removal companies to avoid health risks and potential bodily harm due to iguanas having very sharp teeth and nails,” Ronquillo said.
Iguanas have tails that often have spikes on them, and they can swing them around at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.
Ronquillo said that Iguanas frequently climb coconut or palm trees to use as avenues to enter properties.
Iguanas falling out of trees in chilly weather has become a problem in Florida.
They cannot maintain a proper internal temperature in colder weather, so they begin to shut down around 40 degrees.
“When temperatures drop and sustain to near freezing or below, nonnative green iguanas can temporarily go into a state of torpor where they temporarily lose muscle control,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Lisa Thompson told the BBC.
Merry Christmas !! It’s raining Iguana’s in #KeyLargo this morning with these cold temperatures. I’ve always heard about iguanas going into a coma state when it gets cold but have never witnessed in person. This is so strange !! pic.twitter.com/n2fQnXf1lV
— Mike Theiss (@MikeTheiss) December 25, 2022
Iguanas falling out of trees have injured people and damaged cars during cold snaps in Florida.
Thompson told residents to leave them alone if they find a stunned iguana.
“The FWC reminds the public that if they encounter a cold stunned iguana, they should not bring it into their homes. Iguanas are wild animals and once they recover and warm up, they could act defensively,” Thompson.
Falling iguanas are one of the unique experiences that Florida residents can look forward to in winter.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
