Where Do Alligators Go During the Winter: Surviving the Cold

 

The alligator is one of Florida’s most iconic denizens. Over a million American alligators are thriving in the Sunshine State. That’s an amazing number considering how the species almost became extinct.

The American alligator is a fitting symbol of Florida’s untamed wilderness. People often associate gators with the state’s warm and humid climate. But where do alligators go during the winter? How does this cold-blooded animal survive the cold months? This post explores the alligator’s survival tactics and its unique adaptations.

People often associate winter with hibernation. You learned from your teachers that bears and groundhogs hibernate. But did you know that alligators do something similar? American alligators enter a brumation state during the cold season. It’s like hibernation in the sense that it allows gators to conserve their energy. They become lethargic during brumation and eat little to no food.

Gators do not fall into a deep sleep when they enter brumation though. They’re still semi-active but their movements are lethargic. There are many sightings of alligators that seem frozen surfacing for air. This dormant period often starts in late November and lasts until early March. The length of the brumation period depends on the severity of the winter.

American alligators thrive in warm weather but have learned to adapt to winter. Their activity levels go down and their metabolism slows during winter. Gators will enter the brumation state in their refuge. So where do alligators go during the winter? Gators retreat to “alligator holes” when the temperatures drop.