Do Alligators Hibernate?

We often see documentaries or videos of alligators floating in the water with their eyes and nostrils out, sneakily waiting for prey. Sometimes, these alligators are sleeping or just relaxing and basking under the sun. Yes, alligators sleep, but do they hibernate?

Hibernation is a process we often associate with mammals and other warm-blooded animals. Animals use hibernation as a means of energy conservation to endure bad weather or a shortage of food. It is a type of seasonal heterothermy that most frequently occurs in the winter and is characterized by low body temperature, slow breathing and heartbeat, and low metabolic rate. 

But as reptiles, do alligators hibernate? Continue reading to discover whether alligators hibernate or not and explore other interesting gator facts!

Do Alligators Hibernate?

The short answer is no; alligators do not hibernate. They do, however, brumate – the reptilian equivalent of hibernation. Hibernation is an adaptation strategy among warm-blooded animals, while brumation is the reptilian equivalent.

In the winter, when the temperature falls below 55°F, alligators enter an idle state. Unlike hibernation, alligators can move around and will continue to be aware of their environment. Brumating alligators will drink to stay hydrated though their metabolic rate slows and they stop eating.

Since alligators are reptiles, they cannot migrate. As such, they spend most of the winter in a semi-dormant state, burrowing into banks, or submerging underwater only emerging once a day to breathe. These semi-aquatic critters all but disappear in the cold season. They begin to prepare for winter when the temperature consistently drops below 70°F.

Hibernation vs. Brumation

Hibernation is probably something you know a little bit about. Brumation is lesser known, though both are periods of dormancy in which physiological processes significantly slow down in response to low temperatures. Although closely linked, there are significant differences between hibernation and brumation, most notably the degree of inactivity. Mammals will enter deep sleep and abstain from eating and drinking during hibernation. Reptiles, however, experience periods of activity during brumation. They don’t eat, but they keep drinking to stay hydrated.

Brumation

Brumation is the cold-blooded animal’s version of hibernation. Brumation occurs in reptiles, amphibians, and even some insects. A change in temperature and a reduction in the availability of their typical food sources cause most animals to enter their brumation phases.

Generally, hibernation lasts longer than brumation. An alligator’s metabolism slows down while it is in brumation, enabling the reptile to go without nourishment and relax for four to five months. However, this does not ensure their survival.

Ectothermic animals, also known as cold-blooded creatures, rely on their environment to produce body heat and maintain regular basic functions like digestion and respiration. So, if the temperature dips too low for too long, it could mean death to brumating gators.

Hibernation

Hibernation is essentially a state of dormancy or drastically reduced biological activity. It is a period of energy conservation and survival for some animals Endothermic, or warm-blooded, animals like mammals. Animals tend to hibernate when their usual food sources are scarce, and the weather is particularly harsh. 

Heart rate can decrease by up to 95% in hibernation, and in mammals with constantly growing teeth, such as rodents, tooth growth also ends. Animals that hibernate do not wake up during the winter and continue to sleep deeply. Even if their den is disrupted or it gets a little warmer outside, they will continue to sleep until spring.

Endothermic animals such as lemurs, rodents, and bats can dramatically lower their body heat and metabolic activity to conserve energy by deliberately putting their bodies into a state where all they have to do is sleep and breathe. 

Many animals that hibernate eat a lot of food before they go dormant, an action referred to as hyperphagia. During hibernation, it is typical for animals to lose anywhere from 15% to 30% of their total body weight. This means that refueling beforehand is frequently necessary for survival.

How Do Alligators Brumate?

Alligators become lethargic, and their metabolic rate decreases when they brumate. They stop eating and dig mud burrows for cover and warmth. Alligators will come out on milder winter days to enjoy the sun. Scutes, bone plates that serve as heat conductors, are noticeable ridges that run the length of an alligator’s back. The blood flowing through the scutes is warmed by the sun and circulates throughout the rest of the body, warming the alligator.

An alligator will expand its jaws to release heat if it becomes too hot while basking. Alligators typically undergo brumation for four to five months, from late November to late February. When alligators emerge from their underground lairs, known as gator holes, other creatures move.