Watch: Alligators Use Unique Technique To Survive In Frozen Pond

A series of videos posted by a North Carolina swamp park described the bizarre technique used by alligators to survive in a frozen pond. Alligators at Shallotte River Swamp Park in Ocean Isle Beach were seen beating the frigid waters by keeping their nostrils above the surface while the rest of their bodies were frozen below.

“Just hanging out in the water,” said the narrator in one of the videos. “Pretty amazing. … Look at those teeth. This is the time of year when they are just hanging out, waiting for it to get warm.”

The latest video of the “alligators on ice” posted Monday received more than 150,000 views at the time of publishing this article.

According to experts, alligators instinctively know when the water is about to freeze, and they respond by sticking their nose above the surface while the water freezes around. The alligators then enter “a state of brumation, like hibernating.”

In a blog post, experts explained alligators can live in water temperatures as low as 40 degrees.

"This is where a reptile’s metabolism slows down dramatically and will go into a lethargic state," experts say in the blog. "Often during this time, an alligator will stay at the bottom of a body of water. An alligator can hold its breath underwater for 1 to 24 hours."

The cold-blooded reptiles are capable of regulating their body temperature in all sorts of weather, park officials said, adding that they remain frozen in place until the ice melts.

Several users were shocked after watching the video, while some were concerned if the alligators were dead.

“Just shows you how smart they are, and how amazing it is to see them do this exact survival technique, no matter how horrific it looks to us humans,” posted Linda McMullan on Facebook.

Some users also questioned as to what would happen if someone steps on a frozen alligator. According to experts, it’s not likely the animal will react in such a situation, at least not while the water was still frozen around it.

“No, they will not respond,” the park said in a Facebook post. “They are trying to conserve energy to maintain body temperature.”