It is possible that the Lake Erie noli can survive the Erie winter. Here is the reason
Time is of the essence for the Lake Erie alligator. As the season change approaches, Erie’s typical winter will be the end of the alligator, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Division of Game Management told the Times-News in an email that any alligator that lives in Lake Erie will die if left exposed to typical Pennsylvania winters. Germs can survive the cold months and even winter, but a typical Erie winter can be deadly.
The alleged alligator spear was first spotted in the water on Aug. 4 near the foot of East Avenue.
Several recent reports, including a charter boat captain, have said the alligator may be near the Presque Isle area.
What could winter look like in Erie this year?
The National Weather Service in Cleveland is predicting above normal temperatures with above normal rainfall.
Salix Iverson of the National Weather Service said: “A warmer temperature doesn’t mean it won’t snow at all. But if the rain is based on normal conditions you could argue that it will favor Erie to have near and above snow conditions this coming winter.
What does this mean for the Lake Erie river?
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wrote that in their habitat, alligators are ectothermic, meaning they rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature.
“Birds regulate their body temperature by basking in the sun or moving to areas with warmer or cooler air or water temperature,” Lauren Claerbout, public affairs coordinator for the FWC, said in a letter. – email. Bacteria are most active when the temperature is between 82 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit or 28 to 33 degrees Celsius. “They stop feeding when the temperature drops below 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 degrees Celsius, and they hibernate when it gets below 55 degrees Fahrenheit or 13 degrees Celsius.”
Insects go into brumation during the winter
When the temperature starts to drop, the bird in Lake Erie will begin a process called brumation.
Brumation is a dormant state that reptiles enter during cold or dry periods to conserve energy.
Claerbout said: “The insects are inactive all winter long.” “At this time, they can be found in holes, or holes, that they have built near the weep hole or in open water, which makes it difficult to see them on the surface of the water. Although insects can survive for a short time in sub-freezing temperatures, prolonged exposure to these cold conditions can cause death.”
During sleep, the activity of the alligator’s body will decrease, but the alligator will not enter a state of complete sleep compared to hibernation.
Claerbout said: “Reptiles with brumation do not sleep fully. They are always active, and although they do not eat, they drink water to stay hydrated.
During burrowing, when the noli ends up in the lake, it will use its snout to make a hole in the ice so it can stick its nostrils out to breathe and get the air it needs. Although the cold air in the lake can be bad for the gator to get the right air.
Do not touch the alligator
If you are at this lake in the fall or winter and you see a brumation alligator, do not touch it.
A gator is not fully asleep or completely frozen, which means it can still bite.
Claerbout said: “You should never touch an alligator, even a small one, because an alligator bite can result in serious infection from the natural bacteria in the water they live in.”
If you see a Lake Erie noli, contact the Erie Port Authority or Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials to notify them of the location of the gator for assistance.
You can call the Erie Port Authority at 814-455-7557 and DCNR at 814-833-7424.
Contact Nicholas Sorensen at nsorensen@gannett.com.
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