Alligators Freeze Themselves in Solid Ice to Survive Cold Snap in Southern U.S.
January 25th, 2024Via: Telegraph:
Alligators are allowing themselves to freeze solid in icy ponds and swamps to survive an unexpected cold snap in the American South.
The creatures were spotted submerged in ice with only their snouts poking out to breathe as temperatures fell as low as -10C across Texas and North Carolina.
The phenomenon has been put down to the brumation – a process similar to hibernation in mammals – that reptiles undergo to survive the cold.
Really? I doubt any reptile intentionally freezes itself. Maybe they go into the water because they are heat-seeking animals, and it is warmer than the winter air. It may be cold enough to semi-paralyze them, but they can’t be frozen solid or their hearts wouldn’t beat and their lungs wouldn’t breathe. Also, they can be seen lying underwater with just their noses and eyes out at all times of year, not just when it’s cold.
This cute article may be good for selling more alligator stuffed toys, but it does a disservice to the facts of life that real alligators face.
Nope: It’s a choice. Gators could hibernate on land (they walk on land) but choose to stay in the water, which looks like it froze pretty damn solid. But yeah, could they freeze solid and survive?
I heard a story bout a guy that froze rattlesnakes. Regular home freezer. Would sew the mouth shut. Then thaw and let roam the machine shop as a crime deterrent. Effing creepy.