Lift Up Your Hearts!

You think Minnesota has problems?  You should see what's going on here in Florida.

Back in 1992, Hurricane Andrew brought to Florida a massive wave of illegal immigrants.  No, not people.  Iguanas.  The green iguana is an invasive species that has been devastating South Florida's flora and fauna ever since. Plus, what other state includes a "Falling Iguanas Warning" in its weather forecasts?  In cold weather, the heavy, cold-blooded beasts go comatose and start falling out of trees, and woe to person, pet, or car standing in their way.

Sunday and Monday, the State has lifted their prohibition on transporting live iguanas, hoping people will join in a massive effort to round up the reptiles up for deportation while they are less capable of resisting.

Officials say the order allows people to remove green iguanas from private property with landowner permission, or from commission-managed lands in South and Southwest Florida, and deliver them directly to designated FWC offices.

Not that this is something you casually pick up off your neighbor's lawn and throw into the back of your pickup truck.

They said iguanas must be placed in a sealed, escape-proof cloth bag and then secured inside a locked container labeled “prohibited reptiles.” Bags must remain closed until transferred to FWC [Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission] staff. FWC also advises wearing protective gloves, long sleeves and pants when handling iguanas. Collected animals should be transported immediately to reduce the risk of escape.

Florida and Minnesota may be far apart both geographically and politically, but this weekend I believe the Sunshine State would be happy to join the North Star State in an anti-ICE protest.  I can't remember when we had our last hard freeze.  We did once go camping with the Indian Princesses when the temperatures hit the mid-20's—but I think that was some 30 years ago.