Some of you may be wondering what our McCurtain County Oklahoma alligators do to survive the ice. Rest assured that they have adapted very well.

According to Robert Bastarache, Oklahoma Ranger District Wildlife Biologist, these pictures show how the gators that are not within brumation dens but rather out in the open water have adapted to these icing events. As long as they can keep their nostrils above water level, they should survive. You can now rest comfortably!

Photos courtesy of David Arbour, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. They found 17 alligators in this icing response. There is most likely a lot more but the crew was not able to get to all of the known denning locations.