Alligators Survive Freezing Temperatures by Turning into 'Gatorcicles'

Viral videos show reptiles frozen in icy ponds, using a hibernation-like process called brumation to endure the cold.

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.