BEAUFORT, S.C. (WFLA) — An alligator appeared to be frozen while lounging in a pond earlier this week in South Carolina.
The video appears to show the gator frozen in time, as its head peaks over the surface of a pond.
The moment was shared on Instagram by a Beaufort, South Carolina visitors page and was captured on Jan. 22, during the Deep South winter storm that left many coastal and typically warm climates under freeze warnings.
“While it might look a bit alarming, this fascinating behavior is actually a survival strategy for these incredible reptiles,” the post read.
According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, alligators become dormant and enter a state of brumation when temperatures drop below 55 degrees. During this state, gators move more slowly to conserve energy and try to find sources of warmth, like sticking their snouts above the water.
