Reptile & Amphibian Forums

this question came up in chat fri night. could an american alligator that is 12 feet survive a Pa winter? and how long could it survive. got me curious. i know i have seen shows where the gators hibernate in dens/pockets dug out next to ponds ( well below the water line kinda)....but these are just for short periods right? mild southern winters right? could an american alligator dig down in pa and survive? thanks for any info. i know Pa is farther north then their normal range.

An alligator is sure to die in a Pennsylvania Winter.
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Chris Law
U.A.P.P.E.A.L. (Uniting a Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League)
Herpetoculture Element Representative

I read years ago about a (female?) gator that lived for many years in a spring-fed pond somewhere in Pennsylvania. The implication was that since the groundwater always reached the surface well above freezing temperatures, that the animal was able to survive.

I made a quick review of a couple of books I thought might be the right one, but haven't found the account yet.

Anyone else remember seeing this?

Same concept behind the alligator farm here in Colorado. Hot springs allow them to stay warm during the winter.
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