It’s not too often we get below freezing temperatures and ice here at the beach, but the Bomb Cyclone of January froze most of the East Coast including Southeastern North Carolina. Our cold-blooded friends didn’t really love the cold weather so much!
The gators at Shallotte River Swamp Park can be seen poking their noses through a sheet of ice while they’re in a state of brumation, which is sort of like hibernation.
Shallotte River Swamp Park posted a video of rescued American alligators doing the rare sight on their Facebook page.
The video shows the animals popping their noses through the ice, just enough to breathe.
While it’s hard to believe they are able to survive icy conditions, animal experts said they are very much alive and well.
Since they’re cold-blooded, they rely on the sun to warm them up which increases their body temperature.
Once the ice melts, they will come out of the water to sunbathe and warm up. Luckily, a few days later the ice melted and temperatures were back in the 60s and 70s again. Stay warm, gators!