Where do MS alligators go in cold winter weather? It may be closer than you think
There are more than 30,000 alligators in Mississippi, but you likely won’t see them much during the colder months, according to wildlife experts.
Alligators are cold-blooded reptiles, meaning they rely on outside sources of heat — like the sun or warm water — to regulate their body temperature.
As a result, gators reduce their activity in cooler temperatures. Once the temperature drops below 70 degrees, the reptiles can’t digest their food, experts at the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks said in a Sept. 4 Facebook post.
So where do they go during the cold? Do they hibernate like bears and bats? Here’s what to know about one of Mississippi’s most popular reptiles in the winter.
Do alligators hibernate?
Not exactly. Alligators go through periods of dormancy similar to hibernation but less intense, according to experts at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.
This dormant state is called brumation and is common for reptiles and amphibians, experts said.
Where do MS gators go in the winter?
Although alligators aren’t often seen during the winter, it doesn’t mean they’ve gone far.
In fact, they’re probably closer than you’d expect.
During periods of dormancy, gators create a depression in the ground along a waterway for themselves. These spaces are commonly known as “gator holes,” experts said.
According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, gators dig tunnels as long as 65 feet in places where the water level fluctuates so they can be safe from extreme hot or cold temperatures.
Another place gators go during cold weather is shallow waters, but they might be hard to spot, according to the MDWFP.
“Alligators may be seen in shallow waters with nothing but their nostrils sticking above the surface of a frozen swamp or lake for several days,” MDWFP experts said.
How long are gators away for?
Gators typically start entering their dormant phase when the weather cools in mid-October and are away through mid-March, according to the MDWFP.
The reptiles are most likely to be seen in Mississippi during their mating months between April and June or during alligator hunting season, which begins in late August and goes through early September.
This story was originally published November 12, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
