How Alligators Survive Cold Winters Without Hibernating

The cold winter months are the most difficult time of year for many animal species. To cope with the challenges of falling temperatures and a lack of food, some of them undergo a period of dormancy. One such state is called hibernation, which is usually experienced by warm-blooded animals, such as mammals like black bears. Reptiles, including American alligators, however, do not hibernate but enter a slightly different state called brumation. Let’s find out more about how alligators brumate, including where they do it and how they prepare for winter.

Where Do Alligators Live?

American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) are large reptiles in the Alligatoridae family. Adult males can reach over 14 feet in length, and they can move at over 15 mph. Their short, stocky legs and webbed toes allow them to move with ease in water. You will usually spot them in freshwater environments such as swamps, ponds, rivers, and lakes. They can also tolerate brackish waters.

Alligators usually hunt alone. They feed on fish, small mammals, and birds; however, they have also attacked much larger animals, including black bears. Much of this potential prey is less active during winter, making it harder for gators to feed. In areas where gators come into contact with people, there have also been attacks on humans and pets.

The American alligator was once an endangered species, but federal laws have granted them protection, and their numbers have recovered. They are found throughout the southeastern United States, with the highest populations in Florida and Louisiana. In these areas, the winter months are colder, and the alligators have evolved with mechanisms that help them to survive these environmental changes.

What Is Brumation?

Ectotherms, commonly referred to as cold-blooded animals, have limited internal control over their body temperature. This is a problem during the colder winter months when temperatures are outside their optimal range. This means that their bodily functions and behaviors slow down. It becomes difficult for them to find and catch food, especially when prey is scarce during winter. To avoid dying during this challenging period, they enter a state that is similar to hibernation called brumation. Alligators are one of the types of reptiles that brumate.

Their hormones, energy reserves, immune function, and metabolic rates are all altered during brumation. However, unlike hibernating animals, a brumating alligator is not continuously asleep for long periods. They do not eat, but they do wake up to take a drink so that they do not dehydrate. You may even see them emerging from brumation to bask in the sun on warmer winter days. When they are moving around, however, they appear lethargic. American alligator brumation usually starts in November and ends in late February, so it lasts for around four or five months.

How Do Gators Prepare for Brumation?

Alligators do not prepare for brumation in the same way as a bear prepares for hibernation. They do not spend weeks over-eating and building up fat reserves. That simply would not work for gators who need to stay slim and agile enough to chase after prey. An overfed bear can survive on berries and plants but an alligator needs to be able to catch fresh meat!

When the ambient temperature drops below approximately 70°F, alligators stop feeding. They begin brumating when temperatures fall below 55°F. They may dig a den in the bank of a river, pond, or swamp. These are often called ‘gator holes’, ‘burrows’, or ‘dens’. These dens are usually dug underwater and extend into the bank for about three feet before turning left or right. At the end of the tunnel, there is a chamber big enough for the gator to turn around. Although the entrance is underwater, the tunnel rises above the water table, allowing the den to contain air for the alligator to breathe during brumation. Once temperatures start to rise, the gators spend more time basking in the sun and will soon be back to their usual activity levels.

Brumation in Water

Not all gators dig dens in which to brumate. Some sink to the bottom of shallow ponds and partially bury themselves in mud where the temperature is a little higher. In 2024, brumating alligators in North Carolina and Texas were found encased in ice in ponds, with their snouts and front teeth protruding through the frozen surface so they could continue to breathe. Their snouts and front teeth were sticking through the frozen surface so that they could continue to breathe. The gators instinctively adopt this position before the water freezes around them. Dubbed ‘gatorcicles’ on social media, these reptiles caused a stir, as many visitors to the gator pond at Swamp Park in North Carolina thought they were dead. Once the water thawed, the gators recovered and resumed their normal levels of activity.