Giant lizards 'are raining' in Florida! Green iguanas invade homes amid balmy weather
Representational image of green iguanas.
An army of "invasive" green iguanas has attacked Florida, United States and turned into a big headache for the locals.
Thousands of these monstrous and cold-blooded lizards have entered the houses after relentless hunting for balmyweather across regions. The numbers of these lizards seem to be growing on a daily basis.
The reptilian invaders have also led to chaos in Palm Beach County and resulted in power cuts and damaged infrastructure costing a good sum.
The appearance of green iguanas is sudden as they emerge in swimming pools, gardens and the toilets of the houses, leaving residents shocked and stunned.
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These notorious critters have been digging near water bodies because of erosion issues have emerged. The iguanas chewed the cables and led to 16 blackouts in West Palm Beach which plunged multiple homes into darkness, as reported by the Daily Star.
While speaking to ClickOrlando, biology expert Matthew Atkinson said, "Honestly as their population gets bigger and bigger in South Florida, they're like any other animal. They want to find habitats and resources that they can use to thrive. And so, as there's a ton more down there, they need to have somewhere else to go. So, they're just kind of moving up."
How iguanas can turn dangerous for people in Florida?
Wildlife experts have warned that iguanas are capable of spreading bugs like salmonella among the pets kept at home.
They can also give a nasty bite with their jaws and can seriously injure people. Once the temperatures drop at night, these reptiles become immobilised and fall from the trees at times. If they fall on people, it can seriously injure them.
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Since the iguanas have been increasing in Florida, people have been advised to look upwards when walking in the night and also not rile them up when they spot them.
Speaking to theBBC, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Lisa Thompson said, "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."
(With inputs from agencies)