This is How Alligators Survive the Brutal Oklahoma Cold

Every time I mention this general topic, I'm amazed at how many people have no idea Oklahoma is home to a decent population of alligators.

Yeah, we got gators.

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One of the questions that pops up almost every winter is "How do alligators survive Oklahoma's brutal cold?"

As it turns out, they've evolved to deal with it just fine.

It's called "icing."

When the air is cold enough to freeze their bogs and ponds, alligators will literally poke their snouts up through the ice and enter a lethargic state of being called brumation.

While the ice-cold waters don't seem to bother them, all living things must breathe.

If you didn't know that Oklahoma has alligators, here's a little more on them.

Our Southern border Red River is what feeds the Atchafalaya Swamp in Louisiana, it's only natural some make the trip up our way.

Normally, the vast majority of Oklahoma's 200-ish alligators can be found in the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area and Little River National Wildlife Refuge, both located deep in the southeast corner of the state, but there have been frequent sightings further west up the accessible river systems.

While the weather may make survival almost impossible to fathom for these creatures, life always finds a way.