Freezing temperatures in Florida, how are the Alligators, Manatees, Iguanas, and other species coping? find out here

  The cold weather is a big change from the usual winters the Southern U.S. experiences, it has to be a real eye-opener for the residents. There is definitely a skill set needed to maneuver a vehicle over ice-shrouded roads and streets. It doesn't take very much ice or snow to make roads impassable, an extremely thin sheet of ice on a road will send a car careening out of control. I was raised in the snow, it was a long time ago, I do remember some of the impossible spots I saw cars in after running off the road. One, for example, was a car with a young lady driving it, or it appeared she was the driver, the road was iced over, she spun out of control and landed on top of a ten-foot-tall snow bank. It can be a real challenge to drive in, no matter what the level of experience is that the driver has.

A Green Iguana, I would not want one to fall on my head.

  The Southern States have another unique situation facing them, invasive species, I'm thinking mostly of Florida because that state is the poster child for them. There are all sorts of species invading our country, some brought in as pets, some brought in accidentally and some intentionally in years past with the intention of controlling some other animal. The Tropic environment of Florida is just right for reptiles and mammals of all breeds. I started to wonder if the invasive species, (thinking now mostly of the Boa Constrictors and Pythons) are suffering from the extreme temperatures, frost, and snow. Iguanas are one of the invasive species that have adapted really well to a perfect climate for them, until the cold snap. then Iguanas started falling out of the trees, they are having a hard time coping with the change in climate. The residents have found countless reptiles laying belly up everywhere, but not all of them are dead, some are in a "limbo" state. Reptiles are cold-blooded animals, as is typical of reptiles as the temperature goes down so follows their ability to function. (Link to a complete listing of Florida's invasive species)
The Iguanas are freezing, however, once the temperature rises they can snap back to life, endangering anyone who decides to pick one up, they get defensive when they cannot move, they will bite you. The critical temperature is about 50 degrees, as it gets colder the effects are much more severe making it incredibly hard for the animals to cope. At that temperature they become lifeless and begin to enter hibernation, they are not suited for cold temperatures. Typically Florida is the sunshine state, sunny, humid and rarely cold, but when it does get cold, Iguanas fall out of trees. If the lizards are exposed to the extreme temperatures for a period lasting longer than a few days, depending on their age and size, they will die eventually.
  My curiosity centered around the Burmese Python situation in that state, I have read about the contest that is conducted killing the invasive species of snake. They are not any more suited to the cold weather than the Iguanas are. The question is "Will this invasion of extremely cold weather help in the control of the Pythons?" The snakes are overpopulating the Everglades, and they fare poorly in the cold, however, they have a tendency to slither under heavy undergrowth, that protects them. The giant snakes that have not adapted well may expire after a few days in the extreme cold if they are unable to find a warm shelter. It would take a deep freeze to cause even a minimal dent in the population, their ability to crawl underground, underbrush and their size (they are large animals), all combine to protect them from the frost. When an abandoned animal den is found, underground dens the type Armadillos or Tortoise burrows are lifesavers to the giant snakes, underground the temperature remains a constant 60 degrees Fahrenheit. When the snakes occupy the den of a native species that native species will be left in a compromising spot, another example of the damage an invasive species is capable of causing. Estimates of tens of thousands of the animals have taken up residence in Florida, some were pets released after they became too large to handle, some escaped during Hurricanes, Tornados, and flooding.

Burmese Python, one picture is worth a thousand words.

They are excellent hunters and hiding is their strong trait, not only are they camouflaged but they are intelligent and very agile to boot. In the habitat the snakes evolved in, Southeast Asia, Burmese Pythons use Porcupine burrows to gain protection from the cold, they are smart animals and will seek shelter when they can. In many ways, they have survived "Natural Selection", are now at the top of their food chain. During 2010 Florida experienced an intense period of cold weather, the Burmese Python population appeared to drop, however when 2012 rolled around and another study was conducted it was found the invasive species bounced back, it would take an extreme cooling off for an extended period of time to kill off the snakes. It is predicted this cold snap will be ineffective in helping to eradicate that species. A sobering fact is over time they may adapt to become more tolerant of the cold snowy weather, and expand their range, oh great. (Link to more on Florida's Pythons)
  Manatees are one of the hardest hit species, although they are not an invasive species, they just are not adapted to the cold weather. In January 2018, 200 of the passive mammals have died, 429 is the most Manatees Florida has lost in any single year. To lose 50% of that number in one month is mind-boggling, to say the least, local wildlife officials are keeping a close eye on them. The waterborne mammals can experience "Cold Stress Syndrome", when the water temperature dips below 68 degrees for an extended period it can cause the Manatees to become weak, resulting in death. If they do survive the event more serious health issues may be suffered by them later down the road. Manatees are struggling in the cold, they will survive as long as the cold snap does not last weeks or as long as a month.
  The Sea Turtles suffer from much the same cold water conditions as the Manatees do, their low temperature is 50 degrees f. They become chilled, they are cold-blooded animals as well, they enter a "coma" type of state. The turtles cannot move, when they are in the water it may turn into a deadly event for them. The Sea Turtles have been found on beaches helpless after being washed up by waves, rescuing them has been a huge success. During the Month of January 2018 (I am writing this on the 18th, so we're not even close to the end of the month), 4500 sea turtles have been rescued from the freezing temperatures. After they are rescued the amphibians are placed in warm salt water and allowed some rest and relaxation time, during which they recover with 80% of them already having been released. A lot of the Turtles have been tagged, making the study of them much more effective than before the freeze.
  What about the alligators, did you see the video of the alligator with its snout sticking out of the frozen pond? The crocodilians are capable of surviving cold snaps, they don't like being cold even a little bit, in fact, they enjoy it less than humans. That alligator in the pond appeared to be dead or dying, but that can't be further from the truth, it was very much alive after having gone into "survival mode". That's what they do in the extreme cold, they can sense what's happening so they expect it, laying lifeless in the water they stick their noses out of the water to allow themselves the ability to breathe.

The Alligators snout frozen in ice, it did survive.

They go into a state called "Torpor", their metabolism comes to an almost complete stop, but they do not hibernate or go into a deep sleep state. When they enter Torpor they are lethargic, still barely moving, barely breathing but still very much alive, however, they would die within 24 hours if their ability to breathe was taken away. They must keep their snouts above the water, in the video, it just so happens this is one of the more rare times when the pond froze around the animal's muzzle, the alligator most likely did not notice. They cannot deal with the cold water for a long extended period, extended cold weather in the south is rare, so few die from exposure to the cold. Once the ice has melted and the water temperature reaches 65-70 degrees all is well in the alligator world, they become active again just like they have done for millions of years.
  So my curiosity is satisfied, I initially started this blog thinking that the invasive species would be in serious trouble with this bout of icy weather, I was mistaken. The native species like the Manatees are suffering worse than the invasive species from South East Asia, sometimes things just don't make sense. Doesn't it seem like native animals should be better equipped for the cold than the imported ones? It appears that is not the case, in fact, the one species suffering the most is the most native to Florida, the Manatees. I wonder why the Sea Turtles don't just turn around and head south instead of continuing in the direction of the freezing temperatures. The Iguanas will most likely bounce back, they are a tough species, but still, they don't belong in Florida along with hundreds of other invasives, they are not dying to take over, they are just taking over.
(Link to disaster emergency kit)
  Thank you for reading and sharing, let me know what you think about the cold, what experience do you have coping with it, write it in the comments below. Thanks again!
jacquesandkate  emergencykitsplus.com