How Gatorland is keeping its cold-blooded residents warm and safe

How Gatorland is keeping its cold-blooded residents warm

While the rest of us have been getting out our sweaters and mittens the past couple of days, Florida’s famous reptiles don’t have that luxury. People come from all over the world to see the amazing animals at Gatorland. And right now, they may see more of them spending time under heat lamps or seeking out sunlight.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - While the rest of us have been getting out our sweaters and mittens the past couple of days, Florida’s famous reptiles don’t have that luxury.

People come from all over the world to see the amazing animals at Gatorland. And right now, they may see more of them spending time under heat lamps or seeking out sunlight.

"Right now, the temperature of the air is colder than the temperature of the water, but the sun’s going to get right there," explained Savannah Boan of Gatorland. "If that’s a good sunspot, then that one wants to take the sunspot, so they’ll pile up on each other."

Gatorland has a plan for all of its cold-blooded residents.

The tortoises stay inside until the weather reaches about 65 degrees.

The Burmese pythons and anacondas have space heaters galore.

The iguanas and tegus were hanging out by the sunny window, even though they had heat lamps blasting to keep the room around 82 degrees.

And the crocodile monitor? He likes it at 85 degrees.

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"They come from Papua New Guinea, where it stays warm all the time, so we let them stay inside at night," Boan explained.

Jawlene, a bit of a celebrity around Gatorland, is definitely getting special treatment right now. She’s staying inside with the baby alligators, just in case.

"Their blood vessels are closest to the surface on their tongue. So if there is heat being expelled, it’s going to come out," Boan said. "Since she doesn’t have that top jaw, we can’t really dictate what temperature she’s okay at."

Gatorland does have animals other than reptiles. Most of their mammals, like the capybara, actually love the cold.

Boan says the panthers are extra playful this time of year.

The foxes are having a great time as well.

"They have a lighter summer coat and then in the winter, when it starts to get cold, they have a winter coat," said Boan.

In the wild this time of year, you’ll see more gators on land than you might in the summer. If you do see them, be respectful, keep your distance, and make use of the zoom feature on your phone’s camera.

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