Overview

• Alligators in Texas and North Carolina are surviving freezing temperatures by allowing themselves to freeze solid in icy ponds and swamps, with only their snouts poking out for breathing.
• The phenomenon, known as brumation, is a process similar to hibernation in mammals that reptiles undergo to survive the cold.
• Videos of the 'gatorcicles' have gone viral on social media, with one TikTok video garnering over 15 million views and 1.8 million likes.
• During brumation, alligators' heart rates plummet to almost undetectable levels, and they can hold their breath for up to 24 hours.
• Despite the harsh conditions, the alligators are expected to return to normal once temperatures rise.