What happens when cold arctic air blasts the cold-blooded alligators of a Florida swamp?
They go underwater.
As a rare southeast winter storm swept the Gulf Coast on Tuesday, experts said that while some wildlife, such as alligators, can adapt to extreme cold, the longer the cold season, This can be especially dangerous for marine life.
That was the case with 60 to 70 manatees congregating in the spring waters of Wakulla Springs State Park near Tallahassee, Fla., after snow and sleet fell Tuesday. Many manatees Died during the 2010 freeze..
Scott Rylance, a senior maintenance mechanic at the park, said the cold-blooded gators that live there also survive the bitter cold by hunting in the warm spring waters.
“It could be 10 degrees out here, and that water would still be 70 degrees,” said Mr. Rylance, who ran the ranger station.
Frank J. Mazzotti, a professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Florida, said alligators, which usually slow down in winter, adapt to cold weather by finding warmth in the water. Even if ice covers a body of water, gators can survive in the water below, sometimes sticking their snouts through the ice to breathe, he said.
“It’s like taking a snorkel,” Dr. Mazzotti said.
Manatees may move to warmer spring waters, but Long-term exposure Extreme weather can be deadly, Dr. Mazzotti said.
In a statement Tuesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission warned that sea turtles can become “cold-stunned” when water temperatures drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
“Cold-stunned sea turtles may be floating in the water, on or near shore,” the agency said, advising residents to report any injured, distressed or dead sea turtles.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries also warned that the cold blast is likely to cause fish kills due to freezing water temperatures in coastal areas of the state. Spotted sitout and red drum, both inshore species, can face problems when water temperatures drop below certain levels, said Jason Adrianes, a fisheries biologist with the department. said in a news release earlier this month.
The rate at which the water is cooled is also important, Mr Adrians said. “Fish are more likely to survive if they have a chance to adapt and move.”
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries wildlife administrator Tommy Tuma said the biggest threat to wildlife during extreme weather comes from people concerned about the animals’ survival.
For example, residents may see more wildlife searching for food under the snow and want to help, Mr. Toma said. But Mr. Toma and The department warned Residents against taking wild animals during storms. Wild animals are intuitive, he said, and can sense when a weather event is approaching.
“They know it’s coming, and they know how to deal with these types of things,” he said.
