3 February 12-18, 2026 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | ▼ FLORIDA THAT’S COLD DID FLORIDA OFFICIALS JUST KILL MORE THAN 5,000 FROZEN IGUANAS? BY B. SCOTT MCLENDON I n an apparent effort to kill as many green iguanas as possible, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) temporarily depu- tized all 23 million Floridians as lizard round-up officers. While it’s technically al- ways open season on the invasive species, al- lowing residents to collect and humanely kill them on certain public lands in South Florida, FWC, for the first time, opened frozen iguana drop-off sites to potentially facilitate the kill- ing of thousands. FWC officials made the announcement over the weekend, when temperatures dropped into the mid-30s, well below the 50-degree mark at which the cold-blooded reptiles enter a state of paralysis. They opened five drop-off sites throughout South, Central, and Southwest Florida, where resi- dents initially dropped off more than 2,000 iguanas for their death sentence before the Monday afternoon deadline, according to Axios. But by Wednesday, that number had in- creased to over 5,000 cold-stunned iguanas. An FWC spokeswoman told New Times that data about how many iguanas were killed versus how many were sent to pet sellers is forthcoming. She refused to answer how FWC decided which iguanas went to the gal- lows and which were to be sold (maybe as food because Florida banned new ownership in 2021). It was also unclear whether FWC used tiny guillotines, firing squads, or lethal injec- tions to kill the iguanas because the state has refused to answer how exactly the iguanas were “humanely killed.” In an FWC-issued executive order on Sat- urday, officials allowed any resident to collect and drop off cold-stunned iguanas. “The special regulations under Executive Order 26-03 provide a unique opportunity for members of the public to remove green igua- nas from their property during this unusual cold-weather event and bring them to the FWC, no permit required, to be humanely killed or, in some cases, transferred to permit- tees for live animal sales,” a press release an- nouncing the order reads. “Green iguanas are a prohibited species in Florida, and other than during the dates listed within [the executive order], may not be possessed without a permit — including temporarily, such as during transport. EO 26- 03 allows people without a permit to be in temporary possession of prohibited green iguanas so they may collect and transport cold-stunned iguanas to the FWC.” South Florida may not consider itself cul- turally Southern by U.S. standards, but scores of residents appeared to brave the bitter cold just to round up the reptiles for summary ex- ecution — much like countless deer hunters do in the Southeastern U.S. every winter. Sev- eral South Florida residents even took to so- cial media to show off their scores. One user on X, formerly known as Twitter, spotted a pile of frozen iguanas in a South Florida park on Sunday, writing, “FWC is rounding up frozen iguanas during this stretch of cold temperatures. The chill can immobilize the reptiles and cause them to drop from trees. This pile was seen this morning at Sand Pine Park in Boca Raton!” Another wrote, “Wild scenes in South Florida ... PILES of cold-stunned iguanas on the ground after falling from trees. When temperatures drop into the low 40s, iguanas can become immobilized. Prolonged time in the 30s increases the risk of death for these cold-blooded cuties.” A travel account also marveled at the phe- nomenon. “This is wild ... PILES of iguanas paralyzed from the cold snap in South Flor- ida, where it reached the low 30s! Groups are out humanely euthanizing them since they are invasive and harmful to the environ- ment,” he wrote. One Reddit user let a photo tell the story. “My father sent me this today,” they wrote alongside an image of what appears to be at least a dozen caged green lizards inside the trunk of an SUV. The green iguana is considered among Florida’s most destructive invasive species. The reptiles are known to eat indigenous ani- mals and undermine infrastructure through burrowing. [email protected] | RIPTIDE | GET MORE NEWS & COMMENTARY AT MIAMINEWTIMES.COM/NEWS The green iguana is considered among Florida’s most destructive invasive species. Photo by Andy Wraithmell / FWC ▼ DESIGN DISTRICT OFF TO THE RACES F1 STAR PIERRE GASLY SNAGS A $5 MILLION MIAMI CONDO. BY NAOMI FEINSTEIN F ormula 1 fans may be seeing a lot more of Alpine driver Pierre Gasly in the 305. The French Formula 1 driver has snatched up a $4.9 million property at the yet- to-be-built Jean-Georges Miami Tropic Resi- dences, the Michelin-starred chef’s first residential building, located between the Design District and Midtown. The 3,712 square-foot condo features four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a private elevator, 11-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, a kitchen designed by chef Jean- Georges, and a 1,163-square-foot private terrace with waterfront views of Downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay. The building is expected to be completed in 2028. “From the moment this opportunity was in- troduced to me, it felt like a natural fit,” Gasly said in a press release. “As an F1 driver, my life is constantly on the move, so having a home where every detail is handled means everything. Miami Tropic Residences offers effortless living, thoughtful design, and a level of service I value — all in the heart of a city that has become a true global gathering place. The walkability, culture, and energy of the Design District perfectly re- flect the lifestyle I enjoy.” The 49-story tower designed by architecture firm Arquitectonica will have 338 residences and 27,500 square feet of ground-floor retail. The ame- nities, spanning five floors, will include an eighth- floor pool deck, a resident-only restaurant and bar, a rooftop pool, a private dining room, an archival library, a juice bar, a mini-market, and a lounge space. Jean-Georges’ abc kitchens, a blend of his restaurants abcV, abc cocina, and abc kitchen, will be located on the build- ing’s ground floor. Developer David Martin of Terra Group said that they are thrilled to welcome Gasly to “our vibrant Miami Tropic commu- nity.” According to the press release, Miami Real Investment repre- sented Gasly in the transaction. “Miami Tropic stands at the forefront of cul- ture, hospitality, and culinary excellence, and Pierre’s contract highlights our commitment to creating an exceptional lifestyle experience,” Martin added. “We look forward to seeing him enjoy everything Miami has to offer and to the positive influence he will bring to our neighbor- hood and its residents.” Gasly is now the latest F1 driver to buy prop- erty in Miami. In 2024, driver Charles Leclerc pur- chased a luxury condo at Edition Residences in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood. Last year, Ser- gio “Checo” Pérez bought a unit at St. Regis Res- idences in Brickell, which is expected to be completed in 2027. Born and raised in France, Gasly has won one race and finished on the podium five times since his F1 debut in 2017. He will stay with Alpine, which he joined in 2023, until at least the end of the 2028 season after signing a new contract in September. [email protected] “THE WALKABILITY, CULTURE, AND ENERGY OF THE DESIGN DISTRICT PERFECTLY REFLECT THE LIFESTYLE I ENJOY.”
