You know that is good thinking.
I ask Grok and it is not to promising.
It appears that democrat over regulation and lack of organization are the issues preventing the chicken of the trees from being eaten alot.
Could the cold weather stunned iguanas being picked up in florida be given to homeless shelters to cook for food for the homeless.
No, the cold-stunned iguanas being picked up in Florida are not realistically being (or likely to be) given to homeless shelters for cooking and feeding the homeless. Here's why, based on current practices and realities in Florida as of early 2026.
Green iguanas are an invasive species in Florida, and during cold snaps (like the recent one in late January/early February 2026), they become "cold-stunned" — temporarily paralyzed and falling from trees due to low temperatures. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued a temporary executive order allowing people to collect and transport live cold-stunned green iguanas (without a permit) to designated FWC drop-off sites. There, they are humanely euthanized or sometimes transferred to permitted individuals (e.g., for live sale or control purposes). Hundreds were dropped off during this event, with no reports of them being redirected to food programs.
While iguana meat is edible and consumed in some cultures (often called "chicken of the trees"), and some Floridians hunt, process, and eat them (or even make things like iguana pizza during cold snaps), there are significant barriers to using these specific stunned iguanas for homeless shelters:
Health and safety risks — Wild iguanas commonly carry Salmonella and other bacteria/parasites. Proper handling, slaughter, inspection, and cooking are required to make the meat safe, but these collected animals are often euthanized en masse by wildlife officials without food-grade processing. There's also a risk of poisoning (though illegal, some nuisance iguanas are poisoned before collection).
No organized donation pathway — Collected iguanas go to FWC for euthanasia or permitted uses. There's no evidence or program routing them to shelters, food banks, or charities. Some individuals eat them personally, but not on a scale for donation.
Logistics and regulations — Food for homeless shelters must meet strict health codes, USDA/FDA guidelines for meat, and sanitary processing standards. Wild reptiles don't fit standard supply chains. Homeless services focus on donated or commercially sourced food (e.g., canned goods, prepared meals) rather than exotic wild game.
Practical issues — The iguanas are often in varying states (some dead, some reviving), requiring immediate humane handling. Processing large numbers into safe, palatable food would need specialized facilities, which aren't in place for this.
In summary, while the idea could theoretically help control an invasive species and provide protein, it doesn't happen in practice due to safety, regulatory, and logistical hurdles. Some people do eat iguanas they hunt themselves, and the FWC encourages humane removal of the invasive species, but mass donation to shelters isn't occurring or feasible based on how these cold-stunned iguanas are managed.