It’s So Cold In North Carolina Alligators Are Sticking Their Snouts Through Ice

"The normal response of most other crocs when it gets really cold is to come out of the water and try to bask to get warm again."

That might not be an option here, though – because of bomb cyclone weirdness generally, and the colder-than-usual air temperatures the US is currently weathering as a result, which could be dangerous to unsheltered alligators.

"They can sense temperature changes and will stick their noses out of the water to breathe," the Swamp Park's general manager, George Howard, told HuffPost.

"In that state, they are still alive, still moving, but very lethargic."

It's an incredibly cool (ahem) survival trick, but it's not something alligators can pull off indefinitely.

Alligators can live in water temperatures as low as 4 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit), but in icy conditions like this, Howard reckons the reptiles would only survive for about a week.

Luckily for all concerned, the ice you're seeing here ended up thawing a few days later, meaning this frosty crew can look forward to many warmer times ahead.

"It's 65 degrees [Fahrenheit] here today and the waters have melted," Howard said on Tuesday.

"They're out and doing their happy dance."