Follow
Frozen alligators are this winter’s top attraction in North Carolina.
Mother Nature has always had a way to make even a twig fascinating. The residents of a North Carolina city have had the change of witnessing a breathtaking display of biological prestidigitation – frozen alligators. Of course, the strange spectacle has been immortalized on tape, and needless to say that the clip became an instant hit on the Internet.
Frozen Alligators Seen Throughout the Swamp Park
Ocean Isle Beach, a quaint little town from North Carolina, winner of the Best Restored Beach award of 2008 and not to mention the home of the Shallotte River Park Swamp, where alligators are as common as dandelions on a field.
Perhaps the sight of a big lizard swimming in the swap might not be something your grandchildren about, but what happens when you see a couple of gator nostrils and mouths coming out of a frozen swamp?
The recent cold wave that swept across the state gave Mother Nature a chance to hit us with yet another surprise – frozen alligators sticking their snouts out of the ice.
According to local wildlife specialists, this type of behavior is not that uncommon in large species of reptiles such as the alligators. As far as the scientific explanation goes, alligators being cold-blooded animals, need to store as much heat as possible to survive.
During the cold months of winter, when their environment becomes a frost prison, the gators employ a rather unusual tactic – they stick their noses out of the water, open their mouths and wait for the water to freeze around them.
After the frost encloses them completely, except for their yappers, the alligators would slow down their metabolisms to conserve heat and energy. Once the ice melts away, the gator will start regulating their body heat again.
Conclusion
According to the wildlife specialists, the frozen alligators are not in any danger and are quite alive and kicking. As for the public safety concerns, they’ve said that anyone can go traipsing around them without the fear of being attacked since the gators are more concerned with surviving than biting.
Image source: Pixabay
