Florida is known for some unusual stories.
But one TikTok creator just took things to a whole new level.
And a Florida TikToker made tacos from one ingredient that left millions stunned.
Gray Davis Turned Frozen Iguanas Into Dinner
TikTok creator Gray Davis made waves with a video that racked up 3.5 million views in days.
He documented the "raining iguanas" phenomenon that hits Florida during cold snaps and then did something most people would never consider.
He cooked and ate them.
When temperatures drop below 45 degrees in the Sunshine State, cold-blooded iguanas literally freeze up and fall from trees like popsicles.
The reptiles aren't dead, just in a temporary coma-like state called torpor.
Once temperatures warm up, they thaw out and go right back to business.
But green iguanas are also an invasive species destroying South Florida's ecosystem.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) just removed 5,195 frozen iguanas during a two-day collection period in early February.
That's right, over 5,000 invasive reptiles in just 48 hours.
The FWC even issued Executive Order 26-03 that temporarily allowed residents to collect cold-stunned iguanas without permits and bring them to designated drop-off locations.
"Whenever we have these cold fronts and they start falling down, a lot of people will go out and collect them to help control the number in the population," Davis explained in his viral video.
One Iguana Prevented 20 More From Invading
Rather than waste the frozen reptile he found, Davis decided to make tacos.
"But they do have the nickname 'chicken of the trees' because they're absolutely delicious," Davis said.
"So rather than let this one go to waste, we're going to make tacos."
He found 20 eggs inside the female iguana he collected.
"So by removing this one iguana, we actually saved the environment from over 20 iguanas come spring," Davis noted.
Davis cooked the iguana meat low and slow with garlic, onions, salt, and bay leaf in a cast-iron pot.
Those 20 eggs became a creamy dipping sauce after he boiled them and threw them in a blender with avocado, garlic, lime juice, olive oil, and salt.
After crisping the seasoned meat in a frying pan, he assembled the tacos with pickled red onions, jalapeño, and cilantro.
"Now that right there is a Florida man taco," Davis quipped after taking his first bite.
"If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em."
TikTok Viewers Were Divided
The video sparked intense reactions across social media.
"Sorry, you lost me at blending 20 iguana eggs in a blender to dip their mother's body into," one horrified viewer wrote.
"21 souls in one meal is crazy," another commenter lamented.
But Davis also received praise for the eco-conscious approach.
"This is literally just living sustainably, and he's protecting the environment," one supporter noted.
Davis isn't alone in viewing invasive iguanas as a food source.
Caribbean and Latin American cultures have been eating iguana for generations, calling it "pollo de los árboles" or chicken of the trees.
The meat contains more protein than chicken and takes on seasonings well.
Ryan Ausburn, a state-contracted python hunter in South Florida, has been cooking iguanas for years during cold snaps.
"When people say, 'You know, that's disgusting or that's gross' – it's the furthest thing from it," Ausburn told reporters in 2022.
"I would not eat it if it tasted bad."
The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences even offers recipes for iguana tacos and burritos on its website.
California-based Exotic Meat Markets imports 10,000 pounds of iguana meat per month from Florida trappers.
The Iguana Problem Keeps Getting Worse
Green iguanas were first reported in Florida in the 1960s in areas around Miami.
The population has exploded since then, spreading along both coasts.
These reptiles destroy native vegetation, eat endangered tree snails and butterfly host plants, and damage infrastructure like seawalls.
Florida officials estimate there are over 600 nonnative species in the state, with 139 established and reproducing in the wild.
Eighty percent were introduced through the exotic pet trade.
Year-round, residents can legally capture and humanely kill green iguanas on 32 public lands without permits.
The FWC encourages removal because the environmental and economic damage keeps mounting.
During the recent cold snap, the Sunrise drop-off location alone collected 3,882 frozen iguanas in two days.
That's just one of five collection sites the FWC set up.
Most iguanas that couldn't be transferred to permit holders were humanely euthanized by trained staff.
Davis made a follow-up video explaining his philosophy on ethical eating.
"I totally get if you just won't eat an iguana taco, everybody has their limits, that's fine," Davis said.
"Rather than let the one that I found go to waste, I decided to make tacos."
He argued it's "the most ethical taco you could possibly have" given the environmental context.
While TikTok has seen its share of viral food trends over the years, iguana tacos might be the most Florida thing ever posted.
The video has sparked conversations about invasive species management, sustainable eating, and just how far people will go for viral content.
Davis specializes in "catch and cook" videos featuring invasive species like pythons and lionfish.
His whole account focuses on local eating and getting outdoors.
"Flavor-wise, iguana is mild and clean," Davis told reporters.
"The texture is similar to dark chicken, so it takes on seasoning really well. In taco form, most people are surprised by how familiar it tastes."
Whether viewers found it fascinating or revolting, Davis proved one thing: Florida never stops delivering the unexpected.
Sources:
- Brooke Steinberg, "Daring cook makes frozen iguana tacos after falling from trees in Florida," New York Post, February 9, 2026.
- Fox News, "Florida content creator cooks cold-stunned iguana into tacos," February 4, 2026.
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, "Over 5,000 invasive green iguanas removed from Florida's ecosystems," February 2026.
- Click Orlando, "'Chicken of the Trees:' Florida man goes viral for making iguana tacos," February 10, 2026.
- Miami New Times, "Chicken of the Trees: The Ultimate Guide to Catching and Cooking an Iguana," February 3, 2022.
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